as the actress said to the bishop

Alternative forms

 * as the bishop said to the actress
 * said the actress to the bishop
 * said the bishop to the actress

Etymology
In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the occupation of actress was commonly associated with prostitute. The phrase plays on the contrasting natures of an actress or prostitute on one hand and a presumably (although possibly not actually) chaste bishop on the other.

Phrase

 * 1)  Used to highlight a sexual ambiguity in an innocent remark.
 * Heavens, that's a big one – as the actress said to the bishop.