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so to speak

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so to speak

as one might say; said a certain way, even though the words are not exactly accurate. John helps me with my taxes. He's my accountant, so to speak. I just love my little poodle. she's my baby, so to speak.

See also: speak

so to speak

this is one way to say it in a manner of speaking My grandfather is 74, and he plays golf every day – it's a sport you can play even as you head into the sunset, so to speak. Even if New Yorkers obeyed all the rules, New York would still be, so to speak, an unruly city.

Usage notes: used to suggest that some people may not think this is a good way to say something

Related vocabulary: if you will

See also: speak

so to speak

Phrased like this, in a manner of speaking, as in He was, so to speak, the head of the family, although he was only related by marriage to most of the family members . This term originally meant "in the vernacular" or "lower-class language" and was used as an aristocrat's apology for stooping to such use. [Early 1800s] Also see as it were.

See also: speak

so to speak

Used to call attention to a choice of words, and especially to the metaphoric or expressive nature of a word or phrase: can't see the forest for the trees, so to speak.

See also: speak