needless to say

Idioms  

1. Very likely or obvious, self-evident, as in Needless to say, the availability of assault weapons is closely connected with crime. Although nonsensical at first glance (if unnecessary to say, why say it?), this phrase is generally used for emphasis. It originated as needless to speak in the early 1500s. Also see go without (saying).

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Example Sentences

"This is, needless to say, very good news for the direct benefit of citizens, both... in the EU and in Switzerland."

From Barron's • Feb. 25, 2026

Determining the points at which past Fed chairs became lame ducks is not an exact science, needless to say.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 19, 2026

But, needless to say, you wouldn’t want to eat here either.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

She recalls seeing "festive patatas bravas" on the menu, which needless to say, aren't particularly German.

From BBC • Nov. 28, 2025

Chasing a dopamine hit runs counter to focus and goal-setting; needless to say, it becomes hard to sustain periods of attention.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel