so to speak

idiom

used to indicate that one is using words in an unusual or figurative way rather than a literal way
We need to be all on the same wavelength, so to speak.

Examples of so to speak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But, of course, there isn’t a single blanket way, so to speak, that works for everyone. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 9 May 2025 The lightweight, delicate nature of plasma is why fusion is so safe: It can be turned off, so to speak, as easily as blowing a candle. Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 6 May 2025 However, experts believe Hubble's more natural end of life, so to speak, will fall somewhere in the next decade. Monisha Ravisetti, Space.com, 23 Apr. 2025 Each mask in this six-pack is a treat for skin that's just been through it, so to speak. Annie Blackman, Allure, 10 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for so to speak

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“So to speak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/so%20to%20speak. Accessed 14 May. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on so to speak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!