Pour ainsi dire
Example: Il était, pour ainsi dire, le meilleur dans son domaine.
Definition
"Pour ainsi dire" is a French expression used to indicate that a statement is to be understood figuratively or approximately rather than literally. It means 'so to speak' or 'in a manner of speaking,' often used to soften or clarify the way something is said.
Etymology
The expression "Pour ainsi dire" comes from the French language, combining 'pour' (for), 'ainsi' (thus, so), and 'dire' (to say). It literally means 'for thus to say.' Did you know this phrase has been used since the 16th century to politely introduce figurative or indirect speech?
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"Pour ainsi dire" appears in the Vocaplus list "", containing 105 commonly used expressions.
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