so to speak

Idioms  

1. 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.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

so to speak

The rich are driving the economic bus, so to speak, and the rest of the country is just trying squeeze into the cheap seats.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 4, 2026

The car was in neutral, so to speak.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

It also hopes to flip the script, so to speak, publishing short stories based on new and upcoming series and films.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026

"Parents have, so to speak, taken power over the schools and started reporting things. Except that not everything they report is necessarily accurate," said Carla Bonnet of the FO union.

From BBC ● May 25, 2026

"I get it. It is scary trying to stand on your own two feet especially when you don't have a leg to stand on, so to speak."

From "The View From Saturday" by E.L. Konigsburg