by the bye

Idioms  

1. Also, by the by. Incidentally, in passing, as in By the bye, my wife is coming too, or Exactly where do you live, by the by? The bye or second by in this term originally meant “a side path,” whence the current sense of “off the track” or “of secondary importance.” [Early 1500s] Also see by the way.

---

Example Sentences

“She had engaged to go as governess to Mrs. Smallridge’s children—a dear friend of Mrs. Elton’s—a neighbour of Maple Grove; and, by the bye, I wonder how Mrs. Elton bears the disappointment?”

From Literature

“What’ll you drink, Mr.—? You didn’t mention your name, by the bye.”

From Literature

After missing most of two games with a concussion, followed by the bye week, Slovis hasn’t seen the field much since having three passes intercepted against Brigham Young.

From Los Angeles Times

Indeed, perhaps the only true words he had spoken that decade, though that is by the bye.

From The Guardian

But this was all by the bye—the sort of routine Trump gasbaggery that members of his staff could walk back later, if they were so inclined.

From The New Yorker

Related Words

• casually
• remotely