| 单词 | i say |
| 释义 | > as lemmasI say ΚΠ 1634 J. Canne Necessitie of Separation v. 217 His proofs are allwayes beggarly I sayes, or ifs, and may be soes. I say Phrases P1. Contrasted with do in proverbial phrases and locutions. a. In phrases criticizing a discrepancy between a person's words and actions, or asserting the necessity of good actions in addition to good words, as say and do not, say one thing and do another, say well and do well, etc. Cf. do as I say, not as I do at do v. Phrases 3, say-well n. 1.Frequently in, or with allusion to, Matthew 23:3. ΚΠ OE West Saxon Gospels: Matt. (Corpus Cambr.) xxiii. 3 Healdað & wyrceað swa hwæt swa hig secgeaþ & ne do ge na æfter heora worcum; Hig secgeað & ne doð [L. dicunt enim et non faciunt]. c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 8660 Do swa summ þu seȝȝdesst. c1384 Bible (Wycliffite, E.V.) (Douce 369(2)) (1850) Matt. xxiii. 3 Sothely thei seien, and don nat. a1500 tr. Thomas à Kempis De Imitatione Christi (Trin. Dublin) (1893) 103 Shal I be like a man þat saiþ & doþe not? 1536 R. Morison Remedy for Sedition sig. E.iii Men say wel that do wel. 1611 Bible (King James) Matt. xxiii. 3 But doe not ye after their workes: for they say, and doe not. View more context for this quotation 1646 J. Bastwick Utter Routing of Army of Independents To Rdr. sig. A4v They are so unrighteous in all their proceedings, and when they say one thing and do and practice another. 1692 tr. Sallust Wks. sig. (a6) So hard a thing it is for a Man to say well and do well. 1758 E. Carter tr. Epictetus Wks. iii. vii. 246 We too say one Thing, and do another: we talk well, and act ill. 1813 Panoplist Dec. 519/1 Those who say and do not rather injure, than subserve the cause which they pretend to espouse. 1846 J. F. Cooper Redskins xv. 218 My children, never forget this. You are not pale-faces, to say one thing and do another. What you say, you do. 1911 Our Paper 23 Sept. 447/2 A man ought to be real in all he says and does. He ought not to say one thing and do another. 1970 Bible (New Eng.) Matt. xxiii. 3 But do not follow their practice; for they say one thing and do another. 2014 Times (Nexis) 8 Oct. (Business section) 37 That's traders for you: say one thing, do another. b. easier (also quicker, sooner) said than done: used to indicate that an idea, instruction, etc., is difficult or awkward to put into practice. Also no sooner said than done: used to indicate that a suggestion or instruction will be or has been immediately acted upon. ΚΠ ?1532 T. Paynell tr. Erasmus De Contemptu Mundi xi. sig. N.iijv Whan a man..muste do euery thynge as an other shall commaunde hym, orels to be ledde after the luste and pleasure of an other, is sooner sayd than done [L. dictu est quam factu proclivius]. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. v. sig. Hivv As ye can seeme wise in words, be wise in dede. That is (quoth she) sooner sayd than done, I drede. 1657 R. Ligon True Hist. Barbados 92 I have yet said nothing of making white Sugars, but that is much quicker said than done. 1692 T. Taylor tr. G. Daniel Voy. World Cartesius i. 29 She would not tell me presently of the Accident, but only invited me to take a turn or two: No sooner said than done. 1746 W. Bollan Importance & Advantage of Cape Breton v. 107 A good Fleet at Sea, would prevent their landing... This is a Thing much easier said, than done. 1788 A. Jardine Lett. from Barbary, France, &c. II. xxiv. 239 We strangers and sojourners here are very apt to think we could easily improve this country... It is easier said than done. 1832 W. Stephenson Coll. Local Poems, Songs, &c. 66 I'll tell you slobber-chops, You'll find that sooner said than done—perhaps. 1892 Analyst Mar. 50 The filtration of milk was a thing which was much quicker said than done. 1921 Independent 15 Jan. 67/1 The first law of creative literature is make every character interesting. More easily said than done, of course. 1962 H. T. Strother Underground Railroad in Connecticut xi. 157 Someone shouted: ‘Water would do no harm to a dirty abolitionist!’ No sooner said than done; the mob obtained buckets and began dousing the members with water. 2011 T. Ronald Becoming Nancy (2012) xix. 255 The best and safest course of action for me was to work hard and keep my head down... Easier said than done. P2. a. that is to say (also which is to say, this is to say, †that is at say). [Compare Anglo-Norman and Old French, Middle French c'est a dire (12th cent.; French c'est à dire, c'est-à-dire).] (a) Used to introduce a more explicit or intelligible restatement of a preceding expression, esp. to gloss one taken from a foreign language or a different variety of English. Later also used to introduce a plain, unvarnished statement of a fact which a preceding expression misrepresents or euphemistically veils. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > specifically [phrase] > namely or that is to say id esteOE that is to sayc1175 that is to wit1340 that is to witting1340 to say1547 to wit1577 to understand1579 c1175 Ormulum (Burchfield transcript) l. 10085 He shollde itt hæwenn..att te treowwess rote, Þatt iss to seggenn..Rihht att tatt follkess ende. a1200 MS Trin. Cambr. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1873) 2nd Ser. 3 Aduent þat is seggen on englis ure louerd ihesu cristes tocume. a1225 (?OE) MS Lamb. in R. Morris Old Eng. Homilies (1868) 1st Ser. 123 Ðet is to seggane: Gif þa hefdmen of þissere worlde hefden icnawen crist, nefden heo nefre ifestned hine on rode for ure hele. c1330 (?c1300) Speculum Guy (Auch.) (1898) 413 Þis is to seie, i telle þe: ‘Þe clene of herte, blessed þeih be’. a1425 Rule St. Benet (Lansd.) (1902) 15 (MED) Þat es hele of þa þat ere in sekenes, þat es at say in sinne. a1500 (?a1450) Gesta Romanorum (Harl. 7333) (1879) 172 Seing, thus, Quomodo fiet istud? this is to seye, how shulde this be I-done? 1566 T. Blundeville Order curing Horses Dis. xcv. f. 67v, in Fower Offices Horsemanshippe And also an other disease called Procidentia ani, that is to say the falling out of the fundament, which the Phisitians do accoumpt as seuerall diseases. 1604 E. Grimeston tr. J. de Acosta Nat. & Morall Hist. Indies v. xvii. 374 A lake..which they call Ezapangue, which is to say, water of blood. 1677 Duke of Lauderdale in O. Airy Lauderdale Papers (1885) III. lvii. 89 They pretend they cannot suppress these disorders, that is to say they will doe nothing towards it. 1742 J. Fraser Hist. Nadir Shah 126 Tokbîr is repeating three times these words,..Allah Akbar, which is to say, God is Greatest. 1818 W. Scott Heart of Mid-Lothian in Tales of my Landlord 2nd Ser. I. iv. 50 Porteous has become liable to the pœna extra ordinem, or capital punishment; which is to say, in plain Scotch, the gallows. 1824 J. G. Gorton tr. Voltaire Philos. Dict. VI. 140 The laws of the Jews did not forbid oneiromancy, that is to say, the science of dreams. 1858 M. Oliphant Laird of Norlaw I. 309 It was a little room..what is called in these regions ‘coomcieled’, which is to say, the roof sloped on one side, being close under the leads. 1923 R. Kipling Irish Guards in Great War I. 58 The Irish ‘drummed up’, which is to say, stewed their tea or rations. 2009 New Yorker 10 Aug. 30/2 Seventeen of the accused were killed through ‘extra legal violence’—that is to say, lynched. (b) Introducing more detailed information or a specific example: to be specific; namely.Examples with which rather than that are rare before the 20th cent. ΚΠ a1325 Diuersa Cibaria in C. B. Hieatt & S. Butler Curye on Inglysch (1985) 51 (MED) When a mete is to muche isalt, þat is to suggen, potagee, to maken remedie in god stat, [etc.]. 1395 in F. J. Furnivall Fifty Earliest Eng. Wills (1882) 4 I bequethe to the same Thomas, the stoffe longyng therto, that is to seye, my beste fetherbed [etc.]. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 181 A fissh þt is waterlees That is to seyn, a Monk out of his Cloystre. 1539 Bible (Great) title The Byble in English; that is to saye, the Content of all the Holy Scripture. 1569 R. Grafton Chron. II. 130 Two Aldermen more.., that is to say, Arnold Thedmare, & Henry Walmode. 1645 Perfect Passages Proc. in Parl. No. 50. 397 The persons made incapable of any place or office towards the Law, that is to say, all Judges and Officers towards the Law (Common and Civill) who have deserted Parliament, and adhered to the Enemies thereof. 1687 A. Lovell tr. J. de Thévenot Trav. into Levant ii. 25 Three hours after, that's to say, about eleven a Clock. 1725 D. Defoe New Voy. round World ii. 88 A very handsome Table, covered with..a cold Treat, that is to say, Cold roasted Mutton and Beef. 1793 Astrologer's Mag. Sept. 69/1 The line of the liver sufficiently long, that is to say, extending to the middle of the natural line. 1864 J. Bryce Holy Rom. Empire iii. 31 Francia Occidentalis, that is to say, Neustria and Aquitaine. 1928 S. C. Herold Analyt. Princ. Production Oil, Gas, & Water i. 6 Their numerical values appear only in the form of comparative data; this is to say, the numerical values of the properties of oil, gas, and water are immaterial, except in the form of proportional values. 1966 H. Davies New London Spy (1967) 288 Synagogues, like shops, are at their most unwelcoming during their high season—which is to say, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. 2009 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 3 Mar. d1/5 The spacecraft's mission will be to discover Earth-like planets in Earth-like places—that is to say, in the..zones around stars where liquid water can exist. ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > kind or sort > individual character or quality > the quality of being specific > specifically [phrase] > namely or that is to say id esteOE that is to sayc1175 that is to wit1340 that is to witting1340 to say1547 to wit1577 to understand1579 1547 J. Hooper Declar. Christe v. D iij Sainct Paule callith Christ..the minister and seruant of the saynctes to say of souche as be here lyuing in this troblyd and persecutyd churche. 1547 J. Hooper Declar. Christe vi. E viij Hym that had the imperie and dominion of deathe to say the deuill. 1579 T. North tr. Plutarch Liues 529 Gymnasiarchus, to say, a master of exercises of youth. 1615 Worcs. Inventory in J. West Village Rec. (1982) iv. 102 Item, corne In the Barne, to say Rye and Barley. c. Reduced to the simple form say (interpretable as imperative or infinitive), used in commercial and administrative contexts to introduce the restatement of a numerical quantity in a particular form, e.g. in specific units or in words rather than figures (and vice versa): that is to say; equivalent to. Now rare.Probably influenced by the similar use of say in variation with the fuller let us say: see sense A. 17. [Compare Dutch zegge, zeg that is to say, lit. ‘you could say’ (1626 with reference to synonyms, 1851 with reference to figures).] ΚΠ 1796 T. Jefferson Let. 22 Feb. in Papers (2000) XXVIII. 615 There are very few acres..which would not furnish 30. stocks, say 3000. f. of plank underreckoned. 1841 W. M. Thackeray Great Hoggarty Diamond ii The widow, sir, came with her money: nine hundred and four, ten and six—say 904l. 10s. 6d. 1862 Commerc. Enfranchisem. Confederate States Amer. i. 7 Of the receipts, American tobacco constituted 19,846,198 kilogrammes—say 43,661,635 pounds, about thirty thousand hogsheads in all. 1877 Law Jrnl. Rep. 46 803 /2 As cargo is coming on ship's account, freight is to be computed at 55s. (say fifty-five shillings) per ton of 2,240 lbs. 1896 Rep. Secretary of Agric. p. xxxi, in U.S. Congress. Serial Set (54th Congr., 2nd Sess.: House of Representatives Doc. 6) XX The Canadian barrels weigh gross about 1½ hundredweight (say 168 pounds) and net 130 to 140 pounds. 1900 Symons's Monthly Meteorol. Mag. June 71 One and two-thirds of a mile (say 3,000 yards) from where it had been picked up. P3. Idiomatic use of the infinitive, to say, in parenthetic phrases. a. In adverbial phrases, modifying a whole sentence or clause, and commenting either on the content of what is said (typically its truthfulness or its emotive impact) or on the manner in which it is said (typically its brevity). (a) Modified by an adverb, as shortly to say, soothly to say, etc. [With shortly to say compare Anglo-Norman brefment a dire and Middle French briefment a dire (13th cent. or earlier), cortement a dire (a1307 or earlier).] ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > assuredly, indeed soothlyc825 forsoothc888 wiselyc888 sooth to sayOE i-wislichec1000 to (‥) soothOE iwis?c1160 certesa1250 without missa1275 i-witterlic1275 trulyc1275 aplight1297 certc1300 in (good) fayc1300 verily1303 certain1330 in truthc1330 to tell (also speak, say) the truthc1330 certainlya1375 faithlya1375 in faitha1375 surelya1375 in sooth1390 in trothc1390 in good faitha1393 to witc1400 faithfullyc1405 soothly to sayc1405 all righta1413 sad?a1425 in certc1440 wella1470 truec1480 to say (the) truth1484 of a truth1494 of (a) trotha1500 for a truth?1532 in (of) verity1533 of verityc1550 really1561 for, in, or into very?1565 indeed1583 really and truly1600 indeed and indeed1673 right enough1761 deed1816 just1838 of a verity1850 sho1893 though1905 verdad1928 sholy1929 ja-nee1937 only1975 deffo1996 OE Wulfstan Pastoral Let. (Tiber. A.iii) (1957) 231 Þyder sceolan þeafas & þeodscaþan, &, raþost to secgenne [OE Hatton hrædest to secganne], ealle þu [read þa] manfullan þe god gremiaþ. c1325 (c1300) Chron. Robert of Gloucester (Calig.) 3747 Bote to sigge [a1400 Trin. Cambr. segge, ?a1425 Digby seye] ssortliche þer nas ver ne ner Of prowesse ne of corteisie in þe world is per. c1405 (c1387–95) G. Chaucer Canterbury Tales Prol. (Hengwrt) (2003) l. 470 Gattothed was she, soothly for to seye. ?a1425 (c1400) Mandeville's Trav. (Titus C.xvi) (1919) 117 And schortly to seye ȝou, þei suffren so grete peynes. 1521 tr. C. de Pisan Bk. Cyte of Ladyes ii. xxvj. sig. f.iv Shortely to saye, so moche she dyde, & so moche she purchaced for hym that she delyuered hym not onely from his exyle, but from his dethe also. ?1541 R. Copland tr. Galen Terapeutyke sig. Cjv Proprely to say these two maners of curyng ar called Prophilactykes in Greke. a1616 W. Shakespeare All's Well that ends Well (1623) ii. ii. 12 And indeed such a fellow, to say precisely, were not for the Court. View more context for this quotation 1868 W. Morris Earthly Paradise 536 Shortly to say, there neither man nor maid Was safe afield whether they wrought or played. 1922 Illinois Med. Jrnl. 42 146/1 Happily to say, a little orange juice added to the food and the disease disappears promptly. 2014 Telegraph-Jrnl. (New Brunswick) (Nexis) 31 Dec. a6 Christmas day has come and gone..and sadly to say another opportunity has been lost. (b) With a noun as object, as to say (the) truth. Frequently with the noun preceding the infinitive, as sooth to say, truth to say, shame to say, etc.to say the least: see least pron. and n. 1. ΘΚΠ the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > unfortunately [phrase] shame to saya1225 (the) worse luck1580 the world > action or operation > adversity > calamity or misfortune > [adverb] evil971 unsellyc1275 chancefully1303 wrother-heala1325 badlyc1325 illc1325 ungraciouslyc1330 unhappilyc1374 evil haila1400 infortunately1442 shame to saya1450 ill haila1500 unluckily1530 unfortunately1548 unluckly1573 bad1575 haplessly1582 disasterly1593 lucklessly1596 untowardly1649 misfortunatelya1686 askew1858 the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > [adverb] > assuredly, indeed soothlyc825 forsoothc888 wiselyc888 sooth to sayOE i-wislichec1000 to (‥) soothOE iwis?c1160 certesa1250 without missa1275 i-witterlic1275 trulyc1275 aplight1297 certc1300 in (good) fayc1300 verily1303 certain1330 in truthc1330 to tell (also speak, say) the truthc1330 certainlya1375 faithlya1375 in faitha1375 surelya1375 in sooth1390 in trothc1390 in good faitha1393 to witc1400 faithfullyc1405 soothly to sayc1405 all righta1413 sad?a1425 in certc1440 wella1470 truec1480 to say (the) truth1484 of a truth1494 of (a) trotha1500 for a truth?1532 in (of) verity1533 of verityc1550 really1561 for, in, or into very?1565 indeed1583 really and truly1600 indeed and indeed1673 right enough1761 deed1816 just1838 of a verity1850 sho1893 though1905 verdad1928 sholy1929 ja-nee1937 only1975 deffo1996 a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 11 (MED) Soþ to seggen, ic not ȝif ich auerȝete ani ðing dede ðat ic nolde habbe sumes kennes lean. a1450 ( Libel Eng. Policy (Laud) in T. Wright Polit. Poems & Songs (1861) II. 181 Ffor here martis bene feble, shame to saye. 1484 W. Caxton tr. Subtyl Historyes & Fables Esope iv. viii Oftyme for to saye trouthe men lese theyre lyues. 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iv. v. sig. Fff.ijv/1 And to saye sooth, they doe not worship God at all. 1587 W. Harrison Hist. Descr. Iland Brit. (new ed.) ii. i. 136/2 in Holinshed's Chron. (new ed.) I And to saie truth, one..of these small liuings is of so little value, that it is not able to mainteine a meane scholar. 1600 J. Lane Tom Tel-Troths Message 713 But sooth to say, Tom-teltroth will not lie, We heere haue blaz'd Englands iniquitie. 1710 J. Swift Jrnl. to Stella 30 Nov. (1948) I. 108 But, to say the truth, the present ministry have a difficult task, and want me, &c. 1749 H. Fielding Tom Jones IV. xii. iii. 206 To say the Truth, we have..often done great Violence to the Luxuriance of our Genius. View more context for this quotation 1835 J. P. Kennedy Horse-shoe Robinson I. xxv. 169 To say truth, he has a bold and most mischievous spirit. 1845 ‘E. Warburton’ Crescent & Cross I. 311 We had been already five weeks in Savagedom,..and, to say the truth, we had had enough of it. 1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) xli. 354 The investigation of this question, which, truth to say, was one of importance. 1900 A. G. Bradley Fight with France for N. Amer. vi. 179 Tolerance of such departures from the manners and customs they were used to..could hardly be looked for in the average officer of that day, who, to say truth, was not distinguished either for adaptability or breadth of understanding. 1923 P. Guedalla Masters & Men ii. 169 To say truth, the curriculum is, from the educational point of view, the least significant thing in Oxford. 1969 tr. Fructuosus of Braga Iberian Fathers II. 181 Although most of our detractors are deserters of monasteries, they honor them highly and—shame to say—heap dignities upon them. 1995 R. Ford Independence Day (1996) 115 Truth to say, I was as happy as I expected to be. (c) Preceded by an adjective, as sad to say, strange to say, etc. ΚΠ OE tr. Chrodegang of Metz Regula Canonicorum (Corpus Cambr. 191) xxiv. 221 Hi..beoð abysgode þar na ymbe godcundlice þing, ac ymbe woroldþing, and þæt sceandlic is to secganne [L. quod dictu nefas est], ymbe fracede and fullice spræca. 1652 P. Heylyn Cosmographie i. 268 Both joy'd in being Conquer'd (strange to say) And yet both mourn'd because both won the day. 1797 tr. C.-F. Dumouriez Acct. Portugal Pref. 6 Strange to say, its government forbids the exertion. 1818 T. Moore Diary 26 Oct. in Mem. (1853) II. 175 Which disconcerted the latter (who, strange to say, is a very grave, steady person) considerably. 1850 Brit. Q. Rev. Aug. 138 Men, sad to say, though they admit the unanswerable ability of a speech, seldom allow their votes to be influenced by it. 1897 Notre Dame Scholastic 27 Feb. 338/1 One Thursday morning, blithe and gay A roguish student ‘skived’ away; He met the Prefect—sad to say—And got six notes. a1933 J. A. Thomson Biol. for Everyman (1934) II. 1290 Man's neck is..relatively long, strange to say, as compared with a whale's, though the whale belongs to the same class, Mammalia. 1950 Classical Weekly 43 116/1 Our contemporary world rejects the classics. It applauds psychology, educationism, science, and, sad to say, the social studies. 1998 P. McCabe Breakfast on Pluto (1999) xxxviii. 143 You were made of strong stuff and no mistake—which, sorry to say, Miss Pussy wasn't! 1999 New Musical Express 30 Oct. 39/5 Safe to say, the Buffalo boys have wrung every last drop of fire or skill out of the song. (d) to say better (also better to say): introducing a more exact or appropriate description or form of words. ΘΚΠ the mind > mental capacity > knowledge > conformity with what is known, truth > truthfulness, veracity > [adverb] > more truly or correctly rather1340 rather1460 better1526 to say better1536 rectius1575 ratherly1780 1536 R. Morison Remedy for Sedition sig. A.ii In tyme of sedition, lawes lese their voyces, or to say better, in suche ragious outcries of souldiours..men waxe thicke of herynge. 1585 T. Washington tr. N. de Nicolay Nauigations Turkie iv. xv. 130 The auncient towne of the Sun called Heliopolis, or to say better, Solos or Soloe. 1653 H. Cogan tr. F. M. Pinto Voy. & Adventures xxii. 79 Mounted on horses, or to say better, on lean carrion Tits that were nothing but skin and bone. 1666 J. Davies tr. E. d'Aranda Hist. Algiers 15 I lay in their Chamber, or to say better, Kennel. 1759 S. Johnson in C. Lennox tr. P. Brumoy Greek Theatre III. 128 In a city so free, or to say better [Fr. disons mieux], as licentious as Athens was at that time. 1787 P. H. Maty tr. J. K. Riesbeck Trav. Germany II. xxxv. 91 Russia bore all the expence of the Turkish, or to say better, Polish war. 1828 C. Swan tr. A. Manzoni Betrothed Lovers II. viii. 230 Every thing arranges itself, or to say better, nothing is spoiled. 1894 Book News July 431/2 The imaginary conversations of William Dean Howells with himself, or to say better, between the several conflicting elements in Mr. Howells's character,..have here been collected in a substantial volume. 1962 Lovington (New Mexico) Daily Leader 2 Oct. 3/2 The Thoroughbred, it seems, had a hand, or better to say a hoof, in one of America's more romantic bits of folk lore. 2013 G. Galluzzo Medieval Reception Bk. Zeta Aristotle's ‘Metaphysics’ I. iii. 285 For him [sc. Thomas Aquinas] the aliquid of natural generation is a composite of matter and form, or to say better, one of the species a composite of matter and form belongs to. (e) so to say: used to indicate that something is being described in an unusual, metaphorical, or creative way; ‘as it were’. Cf. so to speak at speak v. 4a. [Compare Dutch zoo te zeggen (1582), German so zu sagen, sozusagen (16th cent. or earlier).] ΘΚΠ the world > relative properties > relationship > similarity > [adverb] > as it were as it werec1175 quasi1485 so to say1619 1619 E. M. Bolton tr. Florus Rom. Hist. iii. xxi. 361 Things, so to say [L. ut sic dixerim], were planet-strucken with three bad influences. 1753 Ess. on Action for Pulpit 86 It will make every religious string, so to say, more intense and tinnient. 1770 W. Hooper tr. J. F. von Bielfeld Lett. III. vi. 53 He has a thousand virtues, a thousand good qualitys, with some small faults, which form, so to say, the shades of the picture. 1823 M. R. Mitford in Lady's Mag. Sept. 501/2 My flowers..withered and faded and pined away; they almost, so to say, panted for drought. 1886 C. E. Pascoe London of To-day (ed. 3) xxvi. 241 Having now, so to say, presented our humble duty to the Lord Mayor..let us retrace our steps. 1930 J. Laird Knowl., Belief & Opinion iv. 103 Perfectly convincing evidence might turn up, so to say, ambulando, when we are engaged in something irrelevant. 1993 Insight on News 27 Sept. 40/1 There seldom is anyone around with a political pooper-scooper, so to say. b. not to say. (a) Used to introduce a stronger alternative or addition to something already said (suggesting that the speaker or writer might reasonably have used this stronger term). ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > to a limited extent as (also so) far as it goes1533 a kind of?1565 not to say1590 in his (also her, etc.) way1700 for what it's worth1830 kinda1834 1590 T. Rogers Miles Christianus 23 If you speake not in good sooth, it is fondlie, but if seriously you thinke as in plaine tearmes you write, it is erroniously, not to say blasphemouslie set downe. 1644 J. Milton Doctr. Divorce (ed. 2) 50 By this reckning Moses should bee most unmosaick, that is, most illegal, not to say most unnaturall. a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) London 198 This Parish..ever was (not to say is) one of the richest in London, which their Signlesse houses doe avouch. 1794 S. Williams Nat. & Civil Hist. Vermont 254 That there appeared a manifest inequality, not to say predetermination, that Congress should request of their constituents power to judge and determine in the cause. 1834 Times 6 June 3/6 To attempt to play the protectionist or prohibitionist in places where we had no power, appeared to him an impossibility, not to say an absurdity. 1922 Q. Oregon Hist. Soc. 21 126 The discussion in the press was bitter, not to say vitriolic. Accrimination and recrimination were hurled impartially from both sides. 2008 St. Petersburg (Russia) Times 23 May (All about Town section) p. xii Certainly ‘Crystal Skull’ couldn't have had a more eager, not to say rabid, audience anywhere in the world. (b) colloquial. Used conversationally to dispute an assertion made by another speaker; ‘one should not say’, ‘do not say’. Now rare. ΚΠ 1857 A. Trollope Barchester Towers xliv ‘Am not I [growing old], my dear?’ ‘No, papa, not old—not to say old’. 1905 Everybody's Mag Oct. 532/2 Not to say old, an' not to say slab-sided. Anyway, not so slab-sided as she looks from here. c. to say nothing of: used to refer to an additional fact or point which reinforces the speaker's or writer's case (a rhetorical device suggesting that the full strength of the argument is not being presented); = not to mention —— at mention v. Phrases 1a. ΚΠ 1592 G. Babington Certaine Comfortable Notes Genesis (xlv.) f. 174 Suffer not onely other frendes in kindred neere them (to say nothing of the naked members of Christ) but euen their Parents that bred and bare them. 1637 J. Bastwick Letany i. 19/2 Greater cruelty..(to say nothing of deuillary, atheisme and popery) I know no where. 1683 Britanniæ Speculum 115 His Rational of Private State in Britain, to say nothing of other inferior Officers. 1742 W. Ellis Timber-tree Improved II. ii. 35 Oaken Coals, beaten and mix'd with Honey, cure the Carbuncle; to say nothing of the Viscus's, Polypods, and other Excrescencies, of which innumerable Remedies are composed. 1784 R. Bage Barham Downs I. 344 The very air of the south of France is almost a specific for it [sc. consumption], to say nothing of the faculty there, who are peculiarly great in this malady. 1839 R. Dawes Nix's Mate I. 120 It will be the fault of us, the mechanics of Boston, if we don't re-model, and re-rig, to say nothing of re-anchoring the public ship. 1868 M. E. Grant Duff Polit. Surv. 127 Murder, to say nothing of assault and battery, has been..an everyday matter. 1962 Home Managem. (Homecraft Ser.) 27 Much damage is caused to dressing-table and bed-side table tops by spilled cosmetics and perfumes, to say nothing of marks..caused by that early-morning cup of tea. 1976 J. Crosby Nightfall xxxii. 191 Elf was her revolutionary sister-in-arms... To say nothing of her lover. 2009 N.Y. Rev. Bks. 13 Aug. 14/4 Its commerce causes great harm to the Amazonian rainforests of Brazil and Peru, to say nothing of the indigenous people. P4. In proverbial phrases used parenthetically to excuse an apparently boastful comment, as though I say it that should not, though I say it myself, etc. ΚΠ c1275 (?c1250) Owl & Nightingale (Calig.) (1935) l. 835 Al so ich segge bi mi solue, Betere is min on þan þine twelue. c1400 (c1378) W. Langland Piers Plowman (Laud 581) (1869) B. xvii. l. 17 For þough I seye it my-self I haue saued with þis charme Of men & of wommen many score þousandes. ?c1500 Killing of Children (Digby) l. 139 Though I sey it my-self I am a man of myght. 1599 George a Greene sig. C1 Though I say it that should not say it. 1606 T. Heywood 2nd Pt. If you know not Me (1609) C 3 Shall a yong man as I am, and though I say it, indifferent proper, goe [etc.]. 1663 W. Clark Marciano i. v. 7 I protest, Mistress, you are very handsome, though I say it that should not say it. 1736 T. Sheridan in Swift's Lett. (1768) IV. 181 I have written a little pretty birth-day poem against St. Andrew's day... It is a very pretty thing (although I say it that shouldn't say it). 1746 Ld. Chesterfield Let. 26 Feb. (1775) I. lxxvi. 227 A book that I published not quite fourteen years ago: it is a small quarto; and, though I say it myself, there is something good in it. 1818 Blackwood's Mag. 2 214/2 My adversary might find it, however, (though I say it that shouldn't say it) in the vulgar phrase, rather a tough job. 1842 C. Dickens Let. 1 May (1974) III. 229 I do believe, though I say it as shouldn't, that they [sc. Dickens's children] are good 'uns. 1892 C. M. Yonge Cross Roads i. 13 Ours is reckoned one of the best choirs..though I say it as should not say it. 1911 Watson's Mag. Nov. 990/2 You've had yer board and keep, an' it's not many men that's the pervider that I am, ef I do say it that shouldn't. 1991 A. Bennett Forty Years On & Other Plays (new ed.) Introd. 19 If only in a spirit of ‘I told you so’, I noted in the course of the eighties various news items.., which bore out the central thesis of the play and proved it to have been, though I say so myself, prophetic. 1996 T. Parker Violence of our Lives v. 185 I suppose though I say it myself I must have been a quick learner. 2008 C. Dunn Black Ship ix. 108 A finer body of men I couldn't wish for, though I say it as shouldn't. P5. In other parenthetic phrases. a. as they say: used parenthetically to indicate that a form of words is a proverb, a hackneyed or commonplace expression, or a piece of jargon or technical term. ΚΠ 1481 (a1470) J. Tiptoft tr. Cicero De Amicicia (Caxton) sig. a7v As they saye [L. ut aiunt], we vse not fyre or water in moo places, than we vse frendship. 1546 J. Heywood Dialogue Prouerbes Eng. Tongue ii. vi. sig. Iii This byteth the mare by the thumbe, as they sey. 1577 H. I. tr. H. Bullinger 50 Godlie Serm. II. iv. iv. sig. Eee.vv/2 Thou arte..foreknowledged, as they say, to damnation. 1640 J. Howell Δενδρολογια 70 This huge Olive, which flourishd so long,..fell, as they say, of vermiculation, being all worme-eaten within. 1680 J. Dryden Kind Keeper i. i. 8 And, before George, I grew tory rory, as they say. 1725 N. Bailey tr. Erasmus All Familiar Colloquies 209 I lately began to read Seneca's Epistles, and stumbled, as they say, at the very Threshold. 1773 O. Goldsmith She stoops to Conquer v. 96 Stout horses and willing minds make short journies, as they say. 1813 J. K. Paulding Diverting Hist. John Bull & Brother Jonathan (1835) xix. 87 He..was between hawk and buzzard, as they say. 1883 Longman's Mag. 2 293 A very cheerful..gentleman..who was talking away to me, nineteen to the dozen, as they say. 1930 A. P. Herbert Water Gipsies xxii. 321 Ernest, as they say, ‘saw red’. 1977 J. Thomson Case Closed iii. 43 Water under the bridge, as they say. 1999 Washingtonian May 57/3 The happiest outcome is that a deer..can be tranquilized (‘tranked’, as they say in the trade) and set free. 2010 Independent 4 June 53/4 He met a potter who was selling his business and..decided to buy it and learn the trade. And the rest, as they say, is history. b. shall we say: used parenthetically to call attention to a description which is strikingly original or evocative, or (in later use) a knowing euphemism or understatement.In use indicating a euphemism occasionally hyphenated, as if an attributive adjectival phrase (see, e.g., quot. 1973). ΚΠ 1822 London Lit. Gaz. 21 Dec. 800/3 The ‘Leddy’..is Mrs. Pringle dilated... This last-mentioned character is in its way the master, or shall we say mistress-piece of the author. 1886 Peterson's Mag. June 548/1 The jeunesse d'orée—or, shall we say, the young England party?—will, no doubt, follow his example. 1914 R. Kipling Let. 15 Sept. in Ld. Birkenhead Rudyard Kipling (1978) xviii. 279 Much water, or shall we say much blood, has flowed under the bridges since they were written. 1968 Listener 30 May 699/1 I think the play may, shall we say, amplify light which does already exist but doesn't seem to have been noticed. 1973 E.-J. Bahr Nice Neighbourhood x. 104 Joe Walsh, Jack's shall-we-say housemate. 1977 J. Crosby Company of Friends viii. 116 It's not one of ours..I read it with—shall we say, total astonishment. 2012 N.Y. Times (National ed.) 2 Aug. d7/2 Her husband..is not, shall we say, totally on the bus with regard to his wife's family outing. c. †as who saith: see who pron. and n. Phrases 1a. P6. Idiomatic uses of I say. a. Introducing (or parenthetically following) a word, phrase, or statement which is repeated either for emphasis (and often elaborated in the repetition) or for cohesion in a complex sentence. Now somewhat archaic. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [verb (transitive)] > attach importance to > render outstanding > in speech I saya1300 to lay on load?1562 I vow1590 vowne1785 stress1794 a1300 (c1275) Physiologus (1991) 499 After him prophetes alle Miȝte her[e] non him maken on stalle, On stalle, I seie, ðer he er stod. c1392 Equatorie of Planetis 22 (MED) Deuyde thanne the line..cleped..the midnyht line, I seye deuyde this midnyht lyne in 9 parties. 1540 Bible (Great) Psalms cxxx. 6 My soule flyeth vnto the Lorde, before the mornyng watche (I saye) before the mornynge watche. 1563 N. Winȝet tr. St. Vincent of Lérins For Antiq. Catholik Fayth sig. Avi The mony diuerse..sectis, raigeing..amangis ye professouris of Christis name: raigeing I say, nocht only aganis..the haly, catholik kirk, bot maist sauagelie aganis thame selfis. a1661 T. Fuller Worthies (1662) Mddx. 189 A help hath been found out against the smooting of Wheat..I say the smooting of Wheat which makes it a Negro, as Mildew makes it a Dwarfe. 1719 D. Defoe Life Robinson Crusoe 109 I took out one of the Bibles..; I say, I took it out, and brought both that and the Tobacco with me to the Table. 1756 W. Guthrie tr. Quintilian Inst. Eloquence II. ix. ii. 253 It is the Madness, the Madness, I say, of the Testator, and not his injustice that we blame. 1837 C. Dickens Pickwick Papers lii Although I have long been anxious to tell you in plain terms what my opinion of you is, I should have let even this opportunity..but for the unwarrantable tone you have assumed, and your insolent familiarity—I say insolent familiarity, sir. 1906 H. Belloc Hills & Sea p. xi They took a rotten old leaky boat (they were poor and could afford no other)—they took, I say, a rotten old leaky boat whose tiller was loose and whose sails mouldy. 1998 W. W. Johnstone Rage of Eagles xx. 172 ‘Somebody stop them!’ Reverend Watkins shouted. ‘This is madness, I say, madness.’ ΚΠ 1542 J. Smythe Ledger (Hist. MSS Comm.) (1974) 103 Itm. the 24 day of Jenyver anno 1541 £46 17s 6d that is ffor 1 C 25 peces, I say 125 peces of Malaga rezyns sold to him at 7s 6d the pece. 1803 P. A. Nemnich Comtoir-Lexicon in neun Sprachen 128 Bought of M. N. I say Sold M. N. 1811 W. Jackson Book-keeping True Ital. Form (new ed.) i. 3 If you take notice of it immediately, write after the mistake what ought to have been written, with these words, (I say,) between it and the correction. c. colloquial. (a) Used to draw attention to what one is about to say, or to express of surprise, delight, dismay, or indignant protest. Cf. sense B. Now somewhat archaic. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [interjection] > emphasizing a following statement whatOE loOE lookOE aha1225 loura1225 halec1300 why1545 if (also and) you pleasec1563 ahem1606 I say1613 ahey1696 sithee1828 please it you1881 lookit1907 1613 F. Beaumont Knight of Burning Pestle iii. sig. G3v I say, open the doore, and turne me out those mangy companions. 1890 ‘L. Falconer’ Mademoiselle Ixe iii. 80 I say! won't it be glorious? 1931 Punch 24 June 692 (caption) Patient (being shown into very modern consulting-room): ‘I say, I didn't come to be operated on.’ 1976 Times 3 Feb. 14/3 I say, I've been to the ballet. (b) I say, I say, I say (also I say, I say) : used as a formula introducing a joke. Also attributive: designating a joke delivered in this manner. ΚΠ 1963 New Society 16 May 2 (advt.) Protypical humour ‘I say, I say, I say’ ‘What is it that we take on when we take off?’ 1968 Punch 6 Nov. 646/1 ‘I say I say I say! My wife's gone to the West Indies!’ ‘Oh, really? Jamaica?’ ‘No, she went of her own accord.’ 1969 Listener 6 Mar. 314/1 Making idiotic jokes—‘I say, I say’ jokes. 1987 New Musical Express 14 Feb. 26/1 I say, I say, I say, did you hear the one about the dermatologist, he thought scratch-mixing was a form of eczema. 2014 Lowestoft Jrnl. (Nexis) 17 Jan. Comedy is provided by the King, who is armed with plenty of ‘I say, I say, I say’ jokes. P7. In phrases in which say has a general or indefinite object: cf. sense A. 3. a. to have (something, nothing, etc.) to say for oneself. (a) To be able to adduce (something, nothing, etc.) in defence or extenuation of one's conduct. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > furnish evidence [phrase] seea1393 to have (something, nothing, etc.) to say for oneself1533 to put (also get) one's money where one's mouth is1913 the mind > language > speech > taciturnity or reticence > be silent/refrain from speaking [verb (intransitive)] > have nothing to say in one's defence to have (something, nothing, etc.) to say for oneself1850 1533 T. More 2nd Pt. Confut. Tyndals Answere vi. p. ccxlvii Our sauyoure Chryste to whome he resembleth hym selfe, had then hadde no more to saye for hym selfe then Tyndale & his felowes haue now to say for them self. 1577 R. Holinshed Chron. II. 1096/1 When the Earle had nothing more to saye for himselfe, the duke pronounced iudgement against him, as in cases of treason is vsed. 1655 W. Gurnall Christian in Armour: 1st Pt. 68 The drunkard hath nothing to say for himself, when you ask him why he lives so swinishly. 1699 T. Brown Coll. Misc. Poems, Lett. 170 The Cockatrice of your bosome will have the less to say for herself another day, and that ought to be no little comfort. 1779 F. Burney Diary (1891) I. 105 All that I can say for myself is, that I have always feared discovery [etc.]. 1794 E. Burke Pref. to Brissot's Addr. Constituents in Wks. (1808) VII. 327 The translator has only to say for himself, that he has found some difficulty in this version. 1835 Christian Examiner & Gen. Rev. July 309 The ancient heretics had no doubt something to say for themselves; but by a feeling like that which..appears to have animated Eusebius, their testimony has been suppressed. 1850 J. H. Newman Lect. Diffic. Anglicans (1891) I. i. vii. 221 Bishop Ken..could not take the oaths, and was dispossessed; but he had nothing special to say for himself. 1902 L. W. Pitman Stories Old France vii. 272 Have you nothing to say for yourself? Nothing to plead in excuse? 2006 C. L. Thornton Oath of Office 192 Before his sentencing, the judge asked Johnston if he had anything to say for himself. (b) To contribute a specified amount to a conversation or discussion; esp. to be habitually forthcoming or unforthcoming; to have much (or little) conversation. ΚΠ 1753 S. Richardson Hist. Sir Charles Grandison I. xxxvii. 267 He is thought to be a modern wit..and thinks he has something to say for himself when his cousin is not present. 1838 Harvardiana June 336 The sensible man, who has ‘nothing to say for himself’, must give way before the fool with his budget of small-talk. 1865 Dublin Univ. Mag. July 79/2 The kind of fellow that pays very well in a ball-room; he's got a lot to say for himself. 1922 F. Swinnerton Three Lovers i. i. 15 Few among them [sc. the guests] were what would be called men of action; for men of action, who had nothing to say for themselves or whose view of life was philistine, had no interest for Monty. 1953 B. Pym Jane & Prudence v. 52 He did not appear to have much to say for himself and his suit was of rather too bright a blue to be quite the thing. 1997 L. Hird Nail & Other Stories (1999) 155 For a beaten-down little short-arse she certainly had a lot to say for herself. 2007 J. Collins Drop Dead Beautiful (2008) xlii. 231 He was a surly boy with nothing to say for himself. b. to have nothing to say to (also with): to have no dealings with; (of things) to have no connection with or influence or bearing on. Also to have something to say to and variants: to have a connection with or influence or bearing on. ΘΚΠ society > society and the community > social relations > lack of social communication or relations > lack of social communications or relations [verb (intransitive)] to keep quarterc1550 uncompane1589 to have nothing to say to (also with)1603 to live in (also within) oneself1644 to keep oneself to oneself1748 to fight shy1778 to cultivate one's (own) garden1789 to hoe one's own row1832 the world > action or operation > doing > activity or occupation > occupy or engage (a person) [verb (transitive)] > have to do with or be involved in or with > not not to look ata1529 to have nothing to say to (also with)1603 society > society and the community > social relations > association, fellowship, or companionship > associate together or with [verb (intransitive)] mingc1275 company1387 joinc1390 meddlec1390 herd?a1400 fellowshipc1430 enfellowship1470 to step in1474 accompany?1490 yoke?a1513 to keep with ——c1515 conjoin1532 wag1550 frequent1577 encroach1579 consort1588 sort1595 commerce1596 troop1597 converse1598 to keep (also enter, come into, etc.) commons1598 to enter common1604 atone1611 to walk (also travel) in the way with1611 minglea1616 consociate1638 associate1644 corrive1647 co-unite1650 walk1650 cohere1651 engage1657 mix1667 accustom1670 to make one1711 coalite1735 commerciate1740 to have nothing to say to (also with)1780 gang?1791 companion1792 mess1795 matea1832 comrade1865 to go around1904 to throw in with1906 to get down1975 1603 J. Florio tr. M. de Montaigne Ess. iii. ix. 581 Theeves and stealers (godamercie their kindnesse) have in particular nothing to say to me. 1720 D. Defoe Mem. Cavalier 283 We had nothing to say to him. 1780 Mirror No. 75 (1787) III. 5 Perhaps you have something to say with the gentlemen who make the news. 1844 W. G. Todd Ch. St. Patrick 27 All then that Rome had to say to the conversion of Ireland was simply this. 1879 J. Earle Philol. Eng. Tongue (ed. 3) xii. 616 The imitation has nothing to say to the origin of the words. 1888 G. T. Stokes Ireland & Celtic Church (ed. 2) 151 With that controversy the Irish Church had nothing to say. 1904 J. T. Fowler Durham Univ. 21 The Churchmen of the North would have nothing to say to a Puritan and intrusive foundation. 1999 Korea Herald (Nexis) 20 Sept. Where economics has something to say to the issue, his suggestions are dramatically at odds with what is taught in first courses in economics. 2007 L. G. Franke J. Frank Torres 148 Color or ethnicity had nothing to say to the fact that Sanders was a skilled lawyer of high principles. c. (a) to say that (also one thing, something, etc.) for: to concede (the preceding or following statement) as a point in favour of. ΚΠ 1607 T. Middleton Phoenix sig. C4v Fal. Would hee die so like a Polititian, & not once write his minde to me? Fur. No Ile say that for him sir: he dyed in the perfect state of memorie, made your worship his ful and whole executor. ?1656 R. Flecknoe Relation Ten Years Trav. xiii. 34 Your Cardinals (I'll say that for them) live like great Princes. 1703 C. Cibber She wou'd & she wou'd Not iii. 30 I'll say that for him, the Man knows his business, his Letters always come Post paid. 1734 H. Fielding Don Quixote in Eng. iii. xi. 54 Well, Master of mine, if you do get the Day you deserve it, I'll say that for you. 1824 W. Scott Redgauntlet III. vii. 199 I will say that for the English..that they are a ceeveleesed people to gentlemen that are under a cloud. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel III. ix. ix. 48 No, I will say one thing for English statesmen, no man amongst them ever yet was the richer for place. 1853 E. Bulwer-Lytton My Novel III. x. xx. 202 They beat the New Yorkers in manners. I'll say that for them. 1919 ‘E. M. Delafield’ Consequences ii. xxiii. 266 She's very generous, I will say that for her. 1956 ‘B. Holiday’ & W. Dufty Lady sings Blues xix. 173 Fishman had been around before the concert was a sellout, you could say that for him. 1970 C. Egleton Piece of Resistance (1974) viii. 104 I'll say one thing for thee lad—thou's not lacking in cheek. 1975 New Yorker 1 Dec. 47/3 Houtek was a Railroad Baron and acted the part, but he liked to make others feel important too, I will say that for him. 2011 C. Sherborne Amateur Sci. of Love 70 It's a well-kempt town, I'll say that for it. (b) it says much for and variants: it is much to the credit of; it reflects well upon. ΚΠ 1806 C. Wilmot Let. 23 Mar. in M. Wilmot & C. Wilmot Russ. Jrnls. (1934) ii. 223 Her Lenity makes their Lot better perhaps than that of others, but that's saying very little for the System. 1820 C. A. Eaton Rome, in 19th Cent. III. lxxv. 155 A Jew no sooner sees the error of his ways, than his debts towards his brother Jews are cancelled; so that, as soon as he becomes a Christian, he is at liberty to be a rogue. Considering this, it really says a great deal for them that there are so few converts. 1876 J. Blackwood Let. 18 May in ‘G. Eliot’ Lett. (1956) VI. 253 She remarked that..if people were no wiser in their speculations about more serious subjects..it did not say much for human wisdom. 1883 I. L. Bird in J. M. Gullick They came to Malaya (1993) 5 I walked about eight miles, and as I was not knocked up, this says a great deal for the climate of Perak. 1945 G. Millar Maquis i. 6 There were many crazies in the organisation. It said much for the officers at the top that the crazies were permitted. 1978 Amateur Photographer 29 Nov. 128/3 That says a lot for Tri-X film, which was still able to deliver a printable neg, even with 16 times too much exposure. 2006 New Yorker 23 Oct. 88/3 It says a lot for LaBute's skills that, when the truth finally comes out, we're poleaxed by it. d. when all is said and done and variants: (used to indicate that one is making a generalized judgement) when everything is taken into consideration; after all, ‘at the end of the day’. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > testing > attestation, witness, evidence > qualification > [adverb] > at all events, at any rate alwayc1405 alwaysa1413 of all hands1548 when all is said and done?1570 after all1590 howevera1616 at all rates1667 at any rate1730 whether or no1784 anyhow1799 anyways1828 anyhows1830 anyway1832 any road1855 anywise1859 whatever1870 any old how1900 anyhoo1924 nohow1926 anyroads1929 ?1570 T. Ingelend Disobedient Child sig. A.iii Whan all is saide and all is done, Concernynge all thynges both more and lesse Yet lyke to the Schole none vnder the Sonne Bryngeth to children so much heauynesse. 1583 B. Melbancke Philotimus sig. S iii It must be as the woman will, when all is said & done. 1645 D. Cawdrey Sabbatum Redivivum i. i. 2 When all is said and done, it [sc. a moral law] will be still an ambiguous Terme, and liable to mistakes and quarrels. 1678 V. Alsop Melius Inquirendum i. i. 82 When all is said and done, Machiavils old Rule is a Sacred Maxime with these sort of Men. 1742 London Mag. Oct. 512/2 Little minds,—when all is said and done,—Judge of another's motives by their own. 1763 J. Hall-Stevenson Queries to Critical Reviewers in Pastoral Cordial 39 And yet, when all is said and done, This Something's nothing but a Pun. 1842 Southern Planter Mar. 70/1 We may be wrong, but we believe, that, after all is said and done, the Indian corn, well cultivated, will be found to be the best crop we can make. 1881 E. Lynn Linton My Love! III. 244 He is a bit of a bumbler when all is said and done. 1928 M. Wilkinson Edict of Nantes (C.T.S.) 29 When all is said Bâville was responsible for a good deal of cruelty. 1937 ‘G. Orwell’ Road to Wigan Pier iv. 73 When all is said and done, the most important thing is that people shall live in decent houses and not in pigsties. 1952 M. Laski Village v. 98 After all, Friday's pay-day when all's said and done. 1981 R. Barnard Mother's Boys iv. 49 I know. Still, when all's said and done—. 2007 W. Cane Kiss like Star 55 When all's said and done, saying goodbye with a kiss is really quite romantic. e. say no more: there is no need to say anything further; now used (sometimes with conspiratorial innuendo) to indicate that one understands what someone is trying to imply. ΚΠ 1594 Willobie his Auisa xlvii. f. 43 Well, say no more: I know thy griefe. 1698 Unnatural Mother iv. 35 Well, say no more, you shall see what I'le do if you will but begin. 1784 H. Cowley More Ways than One v. 85 Poor young gentleman! Say no more—say no more. 1849 E. Bulwer-Lytton Caxtons xiii. lxxiv, in Blackwood's Edinb. Mag. June 651/2 Say no more. I understand you. 1867 All Year Round Extra Christmas No., 12 Dec. 27/2 ‘Say no more!’ returned Obenreizer. ‘In your place I should have done the same.’ 1936 P. G. Wodehouse Laughing Gas i. 15 ‘Then say no more,’ I said. ‘It's a go.’ 1969 G. Chapman et al. Monty Python's Flying Circus (1989) I. iii. 40 Is your wife a..goer..eh? Know what I mean?..Nudge nudge. Snap snap. Grin, grin, wink, wink, say no more. 1982 N.Y. Times (Nexis) 18 June (Late City Final ed.) b3/5 I told Ross..I wanted to get into the restaurant business because I wanted a business with a cash flow... Ross said: ‘Say no more.’ 2007 R. Skerritt No More Lies 231 ‘I don't keep condoms at my house. And I wasn't sure if you had any—’ ‘Say no more,’ he says, trying not to break into a grin. f. that is saying (little, much, etc.) and variants: (used to qualify or intensify a preceding statement) that is to concede (little, much, etc.); that statement is striking or noteworthy (to a greater or lesser degree). ΚΠ 1736 H. Jacob Genuine Dialogue 3 I have been employed up and down in Taverns and Bagnios..and that's saying a great deal, a great deal, Mistress Lætitia. 1779 F. Burney Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 332 Dr. Johnson was as brilliant as I have ever known him,—& that's saying Something. 1849 C. Brontë Let. 5 Apr. in C. Shorter C. Brontë & her Circle (1896) xvi. 440 I cannot perceive that she is feebler now than she was a month ago, though that is not saying much. 1917 E. Fenwick Diary 13 Nov. in Elsie Fenwick in Flanders (1981) 183 The worst and hardest day I've had for weeks and that's saying a good deal. 1942 E. Paul Narrow Street vii. 59 He had with him a battery of the stuffiest lawyers in the Paris bar, and that is saying a lot. 1969 K. Giles Death cracks Bottle vi. 64 The most impecunious peer in Ireland, which is saying something. 1992 New Musical Express 4 Apr. 26/4 Thus far, only one of his efforts..has fallen foul of any censorship regulations, but that isn't saying much when the outlets for ‘alternative’ videos are as rare as Sock Shops in the Sahara. g. to say a few words: to make a short, often extempore speech. Cf. sense A. 6a. ΚΠ 1808 Crit. Rev. 3rd Ser. Oct. 143 Mr. Clarkson might in a few pages have given a clear and luminous view of the legislative proceedings..without telling us that Mr. Fox got up, or that Mr. Pitt sat down; that one gentleman said, and another observed; that a third rose up; that a fourth desired to say a few words. 1811 J. Gamble Sketches Dublin & North of Ireland xix. 220 Before the judge passed sentence on him, he requested leave to say a few words. 1888 Amer. Missionary Dec. 366 It is only because I am unwilling that the office and the office workers should not in some way be recognized that I consent to say a few words to-day. 1930 B.B.C. Year-Bk. 214 When I am suddenly called upon to ‘say a few words’. 1979 P. Nihalani et al. Indian & Brit. Eng. i. 166 The Director will introduce the new staff and ask him to say a few words. 2011 D. Cheney In my Time xiv. 461 When he finished I was asked to say a few words. h. (a) to say it with flowers (also diamonds, chocolates, etc.): to express one's affection, gratitude, etc., to a person by buying flowers or another specified gift. Also occasionally figurative: to express one's feelings in a pleasant manner. Frequently in imperative.Originally in Say It With Flowers, an advertising slogan of the Society of American Florists; the slogan was apparently coined by Major Patrick P. O'Keefe, head of the O'Keefe Advertising Agency. ΚΠ 1918 Florists' Rev. 3 Jan. 12/2 The slogan will be ‘Say It With Flowers’, and every florist who deals with the public should make that phrase a conspicuous feature of his advertising from the day the first S.A.F. page appears. 1921 I. Berlin (title of song) Say it with music. 1928 C. Sandburg Good Morning, Amer. 17 Behold the proverbs of a people, a nation... Say it with flowers. Let one hand wash the other. The customer is always right. 1932 P. G. Wodehouse Hot Water vi. 114 Here's this Gedge bird shoutin' about the plumbing of this Chatty-o and not saying it with flowers, neither. 1934 Washington Post 27 Sept. 18/7 St. Louis baseball fans are going to say it with diamonds to Paul and Dizzy Dean. 2006 C. Morton How to walk in High Heels 86 Say it with diamonds, say it with flowers, say it with cake, say it with gift-wrap, but say it with meaning. 2014 Belfast Tel. (Nexis) 29 Mar. 13 It's a day to say it with chocolates! Just for Mum collection. £15. (b) With other nouns ironically substituted, especially to refer to or suggest aggressive or unchivalrous behaviour. ΚΠ 1922 Flower Grower Feb. 46/2 We feel that the future has..less of that old spirit, say it with guns, so let us teach the world to ‘Say It With Flowers’. 1923 Ogden (Utah) Standard-Examiner 1 Sept. 6/4 Say it with uppercuts, right hooks and shoves. 1960 G. Mikes How to be Inimitable 33 I used to say it with flowers... More gallant, no doubt... But with cognac it is so much quicker. 1974 G. Mitchell Javelin for Jonah xiv. 175 ‘Why did you knife your science master?’ ‘We disagreed... So I say it with knives.’ 2004 J. Clarkson World according to Clarkson 109 Why have an argument? Let's say it with fists. i. to say the word: see to say the word at word n. and int. Phrases 4i. P8. a. what do (also would) you say to: ‘would you like?’, ‘do you fancy?’ (typically as a polite offer of a specified item of food or drink). In early use in what say you to (now rare), †how say you to.In quot. 1893 with humorous inversion of subject and prepositional object. ΚΠ 1597 W. Shakespeare Romeo & Juliet iii. iv. 28 But what say you to Thursday. View more context for this quotation a1616 W. Shakespeare Taming of Shrew (1623) iv. iii. 20 How say you to a fat Tripe finely broyl'd? View more context for this quotation a1625 J. Fletcher Bonduca ii. iii, in F. Beaumont & J. Fletcher Comedies & Trag. (1647) sig. Gggg3v/1 What say you to a leg of Beef now, sirha? 1693 T. Southerne Maids Last Prayer iii. 34 What say you to a Pooile at Comet, At my House? 1752 H. Fielding Amelia III. viii. x. 203 What say you to..a Tiff of Punch, by Way of Whet? 1832 Eton Coll. Mag. 22 Oct. 188 What say you, Mr. Editor, to an Eton Newspaper, to contain all intelligence that could be necessary to Etonians? 1851 S. Warner Wide Wide World I. xxi. 272 ‘What would you say to a cup of chicken broth?’ ‘O should like it very much!’ said Ellen with new energy. 1852 H. B. Stowe Uncle Tom's Cabin II. xxiii. 77 What do you say to a game of backgammon? 1893 E. Saltus Madam Sapphira iv. 57 ‘What would a Scotch and soda say to you?’ ‘That I am vile and vicious I suppose. No thanks. I think I will be getting home.’ 1929 Melody Maker Jan. 20/2 What do you say to a beaker of ‘the boy’? 1930 A. Ransome Swallows & Amazons ix. 96 ‘What would you say to a bit of toffee?’ said Mrs Dixon. 1948 M. Laski Tory Heaven vi. 84 I'm getting a bit peckish... What do you say to us going out and looking for a bite? 1997 R. Bennett Catastrophist (1999) 210 ‘What would you say to a drink?’ he asks. 2011 O. Wilde Dawn of Silva vii. 49 What do you say to going fishing? b. I wouldn't (or won't) say no to: I would like (typically as a polite request for a specified item of food or drink). Also I won't (or wouldn't) say no: used as a polite expression of thanks in accepting an offer, esp. of food or drink. ΚΠ 1869 M. C. Houstoun Daisie's Dream I. ix. 126 Tea! No, thank you..! But I wouldn't say ‘no’ to a nip of brandy. 1908 B. Matthews & G. H. Jessop Gold Mine i. 20 Well, Sir Everard, I won't say no, for I've a thirst on me I wouldn't take ten dollars for. 1939 A. Thirkell Before Lunch iv. 85 I wouldn't say no to toast and honey. 1980 D. T. Homel tr. L. Caron Draft Dodger ii. 101 ‘Come in, I'll give you something to drink.’ ‘I won't say no!’ 2011 J. Stanton Blessing of Burntisland 149 ‘How about a snifter to brighten up the journey?’.. ‘Wouldn't say no to a brandy.’ c. who says ——?: (with an item of food or drink as object) who would like ——? Now somewhat archaic. ΚΠ 1880 St. Nicholas Aug. 818/2 ‘Who says pie?’ demanded the captain, looking around on the company, most of whom were lazily basking in the sun. 1898 J. D. Brayshaw Slum Silhouettes 158 ‘Who says pudden? Mister What's It—a little piece?’ 1905 South Metrop. Gas Company Co-partnership Jrnl. Nov. 242 The steward said, ‘Who says tea?’ and he brought us each a cup which was very refreshing. 1910 H. G. Wells Hist. Mr. Polly vi. 193 Sit down, everyone... Who says steak-and-kidney pie? 1948 Punch 25 Feb. 170 (caption) In the hereafter: ‘Who says tea?’ 1988 D. H. Souter Ticket in Tatts 123 Who says tea and who says coffee? There's no difference in the price, only the coffee cups are not filled quite so full. d. colloquial. (a) what (also how) say: = what do you say (if) at Phrases 8d(b). ΚΠ 1825 J. Neal Brother Jonathan I. 357 ‘Was he hurt, uncle Harwood?’ ‘What say?’ 1838 C. Gilman Recoll. Southern Matron v. 39 The common southern expression is Oh? or What say? pronounced almost like one word. 1855 W. G. Simms Forayers 52 What 'say, boys—won't a back-and-rush of the nags do it? 1886 Harper's Mag. Dec. 42/1 I say they are fools if they didn't. What say? 1911 Atlantic Monthly Feb. 189/2 What say we play house with your'n, and we take mine home to yer maw so she won't jaw? 1934 S. Lewis Work of Art 294 I think it would be fun to run up the Hudson to Ye Bunche of Grapes some noon. What say? 1948 E. Waugh Loved One (1951) 27 How say I give you a ring next week sometime? 1972 ‘B. Graeme’ Tomorrow's Yesterday iii. 32 What say we have coffee at home for once? 2004 S. Hall Electric Michelangelo 71 What say I take you for a jar and we discuss this thing further along in comfort. (b) what do you say (if) (occasionally what say you (if)): ‘how about?’. Typically with a first-person pronoun as the grammatical subject of the if-clause; now usually with ellipsis of if. ΚΠ 1844 Magnet 22 Apr. 6/2 What do you say if you meet us there by eight o'clock, and we'll decide the bet. 1890 ‘R. Boldrewood’ Squatter's Dream xix. 238 What do you say if I go run-hunting with you? 1917 Internat. Stereotypers & Electrotypers Union Jrnl. July 15/1 What say you if we drop into the Call and talk it over with Fitzsimmons? 1920 S. Lewis Main St. 195 What do you say we go down to Jack Elder's and have a game of five hundred? 1936 A. Rand We the Living ii. xiv. 494 Well, then, what do you say if we make a bargain? 1952 J. Clagett Cradle of Sun vii. 74 Valera, what say you we go to Cadiz? a1961 D. Hammett First Thin Man in K. McCauley et al. Nightmare Town (1999) 362 What do you say you do some detective-story reviews for my page? 1980 M. Gilbert Death of Favourite Girl ii. 23 What do you say we go outside and get a breath of fresh air? 2000 S. M. Warsh To die in Spring vii. 57 What do you say we go for some Chinese. P9. Law. how (also what) say you: (used to address a jury or foreman) ‘what is the verdict?’ ‘how do you find?’; (also used to address a defendant) ‘how do you plead?’Compare earlierwhat say you to, how say you to in non-legal contexts: see Phrases 8a. ΚΠ 1660 Exact Accompt Trial Regicides 181 How say you, is the prisoner at the Bar guilty of the Treason whereof he stands indicted? 1742 Select Trials Old-Bailey (new ed.) IV. 33 You of the Jury, look upon the Prisoner; how say you? 1760 A. Murphy Way to keep Him i. 14 How say ye?—Gentlemen of the jury? 1810 Belfast Monthly Mag. Aug. 125/1 Clerk. What say you?.. Foreman. William Penn is guilty. 1893 Atlanta Constit. 27 Aug. 9/3 The officer of the court put the usual question, ‘How say you?’ 1968 C. E. Rosenberg Trial of Assassin Guiteau viii. 223 What say you? Is the defendant guilty or not guilty? 1991 M. Wilcox Green Fingers i. ii. 5 How say you Antony Pringle, are you guilty or not guilty? 2009 K. Flynn Wicked Intentions (2010) 332 On the case of..the first-degree murder of Michael Deloge, how say you? P10. In phrases used conversationally as stock replies, typically to express agreement or request clarification. a. you don't say so. Now more commonly (originally U.S.) you don't say. (a) Used to express surprise, doubt, or disbelief in response to a statement or comment. ΚΠ 1696 T. Southerne Oroonoko iii. iii. 43 Marry'd! you don't say so I hope! 1763 I. Bickerstaff Love in Village iii. iii. 60 Hodge. Her aunt has catch'd, she, and the gentleman above stairs, and over-heard all their love discourse. Roff. You don't say so. 1779 F. Burney Let. Feb. in Early Jrnls. & Lett. (1994) III. 244 No?—you don't say so? 1842 S. Kettell Quozziana 14 ‘We shall have an explosion before long, that will shake the State of Massachusetts to its uttermost foundations.’ ‘You don't say so!’ exclaimed I, in unfeigned alarm. 1873 R. Broughton Nancy xvi ‘You do not say so!’ cry I, in some astonishment. 1899 R. Whiteing No. 5 John St. xiv. 128 You don't say so; why, I'm going to a meeting at his mother's house. 1912 C. E. Mulford & J. W. Clay Buck Peters, Ranchman iv. 84 ‘An' I could never see how he done it.’ ‘You—don't—say,’ was Buck's thoughtful comment. a1978 S. T. Warner One Thing leading to Another (1985) 70 ‘Never! You don't say so!’ exclaimed Mrs Honeyball, not very certain what in fact Mrs Soper implied, but sure it was something one wouldn't want to believe about a friend. 1979 R. Jeffries Murder begets Murder xiii. 83 ‘Heard the latest, Bert?.. That young filly was murdered.’ ‘You don't say, sir!’ 2003 J. Murray Jazz vi. 122 You don't say? Well well. (b) Used ironically or sarcastically to suggest that someone is stating the obvious. ΚΠ 1909 Friend 4 Mar. 276/2 Hubert looked uneasy, though he forced the answer, ‘Somebody has to pick it up; it never does so itself’. ‘You don't say!’ exclaimed Wallace. 1932 L. Golding Magnolia St. i. x. 171 ‘Father, indeed!.. As much 'is father as I'm Queen Alexandra!’ ‘You don't say!’ murmured Mr. Briggs. 1943 S. Jameson Cloudless May lxxviii. 463 ‘You don't say so!’ Labenne said ironically. 1962 N. Marsh Hand in Glove ii. 67 ‘The Scorpion's not here, George.’ ‘You don't say,’ Mr. Copper bitterly rejoined. 2011 Independent 14 Nov. 15/4 Ugly..men have a tough time of it on dating websites. You don't say. b. if you say so: used to express acceptance of, agreement with, or consent to an assertion, order, etc., typically with a grudging or placatory tone. ΚΠ 1805 E. Inchbald To marry, or not to Marry ii. ii. 34 ‘Without her own express desire, I cannot give up her.’ ‘Well, if you say so.’ 1884 Househ. Words 22 Nov. 64/1 ‘Don't you believe me?’ I continued, after a pause. ‘Oh yes,’ she answered lightly, ‘if you say so.’ 1947 C. Williams War in Heaven 121 At last the Duke said, shrugging his shoulders, ‘Well, if you say so.’ 1956 H. Kurnitz Invasion of Privacy iii. 30 ‘Okay. We've got a deal.’.. ‘If you say so, George. Anything you say.’ 1976 J. Bingham God's Defector vii. 101 ‘You can..watch who goes in, can't you?’ ‘If you say so.’ ‘I do say so.’ 2001 C. Glazebrook Madolescents 235 ‘This is it, Dean. A true love job,’ I assure him. ‘Wicked, innit?’ ‘If you say so.’ c. you said it (also you've said it). (a) Used to assent to a suggestion or assertion made by someone about him or herself which may have been considered rude or inappropriate if made by oneself. ΚΠ 1833 W. Carleton Traits & Stories Irish Peasantry 2nd Ser. III. 302 ‘Phelim,’ said the master, ‘I'll invert you as a scarecrow for dunces...’ ‘But how will you manage that ?’ said Phelim... ‘I'll find a way to manage it,’ said the master. ‘To put my head down an' my heels up, is id?’ inquired Phelim. ‘You've said it, my worthy,’ returned his teacher. 1891 Centralia (Wisconsin) Enterprise & Tribune 18 July ‘Why don't you spit it out, Samanthy? An eejiot. Is that it?’ ‘You've said it.’ ‘What's the gal done now?’ 1959 S. Delaney Taste of Honey (1960) 73 Geof: She likes to make an effect. Jo: Like me? Geof: You said it. 1991 D. Lucie Fashion (rev. ed.) ii. iii, in Fashion, Progress, Hard Feelings, Doing the Business 79 Eric I'm not principled enough. Stuart You said it. 2004 J. Harvey Wishful Thinking ix. 270 ‘I'm a bloke: remember? I keep my brains in my dick.’ ‘You said it.’ (b) Originally U.S. Used to express strong agreement with what someone has said; ‘you are quite right’, ‘I agree with you entirely’. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > agreement [phrase] it is a match!1569 that's right1608 true for you1765 how right you are1799 them's my sentiments1847 I should think (suppose, etc.)1861 right you are!1862 sure thing1895 you said it1911 with knobs on1930 you can say that again1932 I should coco1936 I couldn't agree more (with someone)1939 that makes two of us1956 yes please2010 1911 Chicago Tribune 11 Apr. 21/2 ‘They'll be sore when they wake up. Dirty shame!’ ‘You said it.’ 1929 E. Linklater Poet's Pub ii. 34 ‘Peace is too exciting..’ said Joan. ‘You've said it, Miss Benbow.’ 1947 ‘N. Blake’ Minute for Murder i. 9 ‘What do they find?’ ‘Chay-oh [i.e. chaos],’ replied Nigel... ‘You said it.’ 1970 N. Streatfeild Thursday's Child vii. 52 ‘It is a big place, there must be a lot of servants needed.’.. ‘You've said it.’ 1996 A. Ghosh Calcutta Chromosome (1997) ix. 57 ‘I take it you don't go along with this,’ said Antar. ‘You said it, Ant. This is one story I just don't buy.’ 2005 A. Ohlin Missing Person x. 133 ‘It's a criminal overallocation of valuable resources.’ ‘You said it, man.’ d. (a) U.S. colloquial. says which?: used to request the repetition or clarification of a statement which the speaker has failed to hear or comprehend. Now rare. ΚΠ 1916 Collier's 20 May 32/3 ‘Are you going to bet on him?’ ‘Says which?’ 1937 Washington Post 19 June 2/3 ‘Says which?’ asked the perplexed Sancho Panza. 1947 National Road Traveler (Cambridge City, Indiana) 14 Aug. 9 ‘For cotton or for silk?’ inquired the druggist. ‘Says which,’ asked the little pickaninny. ‘What does she want it for?’ (b) U.S. colloquial. say what?: used to request the repetition or clarification of a statement, either because the speaker failed to hear or comprehend, or as an expression of disbelief or surprise; ‘what are you saying?’ ΚΠ 1977 Ball State Univ. Forum Autumn 4/2 ‘And you better get off him,’ Emma shouted. ‘Say what?’ asked the man. 1992 V. Vinge Fire upon Deep i. ix. 97 ‘Um.’ Say what? ‘That's wonderful.’ 2003 G. Saunders in Esquire Sept. 192 Say what? said Uncle Matt... The dog has had trouble in his life? e. colloquial. I'll say, I'd say: used to express (usually emphatic) agreement. (a) With clause as object. ΘΚΠ the mind > attention and judgement > importance > [interjection] > emphasizing a preceding statement vow1788 I'll say1919 too right1919 1919 Cincinnati Enquirer 17 Apr. 4/7 ‘Smith is an argumentative cuss, isn't he?,’ said Brown. ‘I'll say he is,’ agreed Jones. 1945 P. Cheyney (title) I'll say she does. 1972 G. Durrell Catch me Colobus v. 95 Would we, by any chance, be interested in a pair of leopards? ‘I'll say we would! Why? Do you know where there are some?’ 2001 J. O. Patterson Jeff's Route ix. 63 Jeff said, ‘I hear Frank got a strapping when he got home.’ ‘I'll say he did,’ said Don. 2011 E. Moon Kings of North xviii. 203 ‘She's mostly angry and frustrated, I'd say.’ ‘I'd say she is,’ Arian said. (b) In I'll say so, I'd say so. ΚΠ 1917 Emporia (Kansas) Gaz. 27 Nov. 1/4 Lucky? I'll say so. All that long wait has turned into mighty good fortune, I think. 1929 H. V. Morton In Search of Scotl. ii. 46 ‘You have seen the Crown Jewels in London?’ ‘I'll say so! They're an eyeful.’ 1992 C. Toibin Heather Blazing (1993) viii. 103 ‘You'll probably come back with your father.’ ‘I'd say so, all right.’ (c) Without object or adverbial complement. ΚΠ 1924 Dial. Notes 5 276 Say: I'd ——, I'll —— (both approv.). 1943 N. Marsh Colour Scheme vi. 99 ‘Does he want to keep him quiet?’.. ‘I'll say! Too right he wants to keep him quiet.’ 1979 ‘J. le Carré’ Smiley's People (1980) iv. 53 ‘He was a declining asset, as all ex-agents are.’.. ‘I'll say,’ said Strickland sotto voce. 2001 J. Fforde Eyre Affair iv. 37 ‘A bit childish, isn't it?’ ‘I'd say,’ replied Tamworth. 2001 J. Harvey Gimme Gimme Gimme (2002) 140/2 Jez: As Suze is with child, flying is out of the question. Suze: I'll say. f. I was (also am) just (also only) saying: used to indicate that a previous statement or assertion is not intended to be combative or provoking, or should not be taken too personally or seriously. Also simply just saying, only saying. [Compare German ich sag' ja nur (late 19th cent. or earlier).] ΚΠ 1925 S. O'Casey Juno & Paycock iii, in Two Plays 91 Sure, I know—I was only sayin'. 1943 I. Wolfert Tucker's People ix. 188 I'm not knocking. I'm just saying. 1968 R. Roberts Imprisoned Tongues v. 58 I was jus' sayin'. No offence! 1997 K. O'Riordan Boy in Moon i. 8 ‘What's that got to do with anything?’ ‘I'm only saying.’ 2013 Pantagraph (Bloomington, Illinois) (Nexis) 30 June c1 It'd be a hard pill for Boehner to swallow... Just sayin'. g. slang (originally U.S.). says you: used to express disagreement with or disbelief in a previous speaker's remark. Also says who?: used to challenge a remark; ‘who says so?’. Also (as a retort to either of these remarks) says me, says I. Cf. sense A. 1c(b).Also sez who?, sez me, etc.: see sez v. ΚΠ 1927 P. Dunning & G. Abbott Broadway: Play ii. 108 Steve's a fine fellow and he's just out for some innocent fun—Says you—Says I—. 1931 M. E. Gilman Sob Sister x. 143 We can park a car there and spoon—says who! 1938 C. B. Kelland Dreamland vii. 86 ‘Miss Higg, you are guilty of reprehensible waste.’ ‘Says Who?’ ‘Says me.’ 1951 P. G. Wodehouse Old Reliable iv. 53 Says you, if I may use a homely phrase indicating doubt and uncertainty. 1971 Black World June 81/2 ‘I just asked.’ ‘Had no business asking.’ ‘Says who?’ ‘Me, stupid!’ 1981 M. C. Smith Gorky Park iii. iii. 328 ‘He's a murderer.’ ‘Says you.’ 2001 M. Ravenhill Mother Clap's Molly House ii. vi. 58 Charlie. I want to have kids. Tina. Don't. Charlie. Be great, couple of kids. Tina. Says you. 2007 J. Armstrong et al. Thick of It: Scripts Episode 3. 86 Oh yes, says who? Oh, the Prime Minister told you that? Well, get you. h. colloquial (originally U.S.). you can say that again: used to express emphatic agreement. With reference to reported speech or writing also with the grammatical subject in the third person. ΘΚΠ the mind > language > statement > agreement, concurrence, or unanimity > agreement [phrase] it is a match!1569 that's right1608 true for you1765 how right you are1799 them's my sentiments1847 I should think (suppose, etc.)1861 right you are!1862 sure thing1895 you said it1911 with knobs on1930 you can say that again1932 I should coco1936 I couldn't agree more (with someone)1939 that makes two of us1956 yes please2010 1932 Oakland (Calif.) Tribune 30 July 11 (cartoon) ‘Those girls we met across the lake are worth a crack on the head...’ ‘You can say that again.’ 1950 Sun (Baltimore) 1 May 12/2 The Senator wrote..that he did not ‘believe that savings caused by decreases in essential services constitute constructive economy.’ Senator Lehman can say that again. 1967 R. Dahl Charlie & Chocolate Factory xvii. 67 ‘Mrs. Gloop doesn't think it's at all funny!’ ‘You can say that again!’ said Mrs. Gloop. 1973 Nature 12 Oct. 339/2 ‘I feel that here is an area that has not been thought out completely’, he writes; he can say that again. 1981 R. Barnard Mother's Boys vii. 70 ‘These teenagers are all alike, aren't they?’ ‘You can say that again,’ snarled Lill. 2002 J. McGahern That they may face Rising Sun (2003) 137 ‘People don't always get what they're entitled to.’ ‘You can say that again,’ he said with relish. i. Originally and chiefly U.S. say again: (originally and chiefly in radio communication) used to request the repetition or clarification of a statement. ΚΠ 1942 Tee Emm (Air Ministry) 2 64 If the R/T transmission is a bit distorted, ‘Say again’ is a set expression. 1972 Flying Mag. Mar. 19/2 November 37 Tango, this is Denver Center, say again. 1999 M. Bradford Under Same Heaven xxxiv. 290 ‘She's the county's next Delight Diviner.’ ‘Say again?’ 2011 J. A. McCartin Collision Course i. 16 ‘Say again,’ Rock responded. ‘There's been a collision,’ said the pilot. P11. In concessive clauses, as having said that, that said, that being said: even though this is the case; even so; nevertheless. ΚΠ 1820 Rep. Proc. House of Lords Bill of Pains & Penalties II. 315/2 But, having said that, he must state that it was one additional evil to those which they had already suffered in the course of this investigation. 1908 Manitoba Morning Free Press 1 Aug. The story of Sir James Douglas might have been told in smaller compass... That being said, James Douglas certainly deserved a place among the makers of Canada. 1923 Times 14 Aug. 5/2 That said, there is little to criticize in the performance last night. 1986 C. Snyder Strategic Def. Deb. 222 We have little choice; today's technology provides no alternative. That being said, we will press for radical reductions in the number and power of strategic and intermediate-range nuclear arms. 1992 Film Comment Nov. 62/2 That said, the new pic does have a dotty Capraesque charm. 2006 Family Circle Nov. 45/3 I don't care what other people think. Having said that, I won't be celebrating getting eye bags—I'll be down at the doctors getting them sorted out! P12. say when: see when adv., conj., pron., int., and n. Phrases. < as lemmas |
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