as it were
sometimes said after a figurative (= not meaning exactly what it appears to mean) or unusual expression:
If he still refuses we could always apply a little pressure, as it were.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Figurative use of language
- a metaphor for sth idiom
- allegory
- anthropomorphism
- as
- fig
- figurative
- figuratively
- idiom
- imagery
- ironic
- irony
- metaphor
- metaphorical
- metonymy
- mix
- mixed metaphor
- pathetic fallacy
- so to speak idiom
- speak
- symbol
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