Talk:so to speak

Origin/etymology
What is the origin/etymology of this phrase? How did it develop, and from what? Is it an evolution from some earlier phrase? How did this particular set of three words come to obtain its current meaning? 50.242.186.54 07:15, 24 October 2017 (UTC)


 * "So" means "thus, in that way": e.g. "place the cup just so", "he told me so". So the phrase means "to speak in that way", drawing attention to the fact that the rest of the sentence is perhaps a slightly unusual way of phrasing something. Equinox ◑ 14:40, 24 October 2017 (UTC)