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 focus group, so to speak, had been found over a short period between 1984-85, usually near interstate highways.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

The car was in neutral, so to speak.

From Barron's ● Jun. 10, 2026

"I think that was weak, so to speak."

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

It has generally been treated as a workingman’s portrait, so to speak.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson