SINCE 1828
not exactly
idiomDefinition of not exactly
informal
1
—used in speech as a mild way of saying "no" especially to indicate that what someone has said is not completely correct or true "He's your boss, isn't he?" "Not exactly.""Did everything go the way you planned it?" "Not exactly."
2
—used as a humorous or ironic way to say "not" He's not exactly the smartest guy I've ever met.
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