Por así decirlo
Example: Él es mi amigo, por así decirlo, en secreto.
Definition
"Por así decirlo" is a Spanish expression used to indicate that what is being said should be understood in a figurative or approximate sense, similar to saying 'so to speak' or 'in a manner of speaking' in English. It introduces a phrase that softens or clarifies the statement.
Etymology
The phrase "por así decirlo" literally translates to 'for thus to say' and originates from Spanish, where it combines 'por' (for), 'así' (thus or so), and 'decirlo' (to say it). It is used to convey a figurative way of expressing an idea, reflecting a common linguistic need to signal approximation or metaphor in speech.
Learn to use this expression actively
"Por así decirlo" appears in the Vocaplus list "Spanish - General - Modismos y refranes - (B1) - parte 1", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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