I hardly know her

US/aɪ ˈhɑɹd.li noʊ‿əɹ/

phrase

A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar.

“Person 1: My face is breaking out again, I gotta go buy new cleanser. Person 2: Cleanser? I hardly know her!”

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Meanings

phrase

alternative I hardly even know her · alternative I hardly know 'er

  1. humorousidiomaticA joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar.

    Person 1: My face is breaking out again, I gotta go buy new cleanser. Person 2: Cleanser? I hardly know her!

    3 more examples

    Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson): How many people a year do you think get their arms cut off in a baler? Michael Scott (Steve Carrell): Baler? I hardly know her.

    2007, The Office, season 3, episode 19

    Bangor? I hardly know her! *the audience erupts in laughter as I do a silly little dance*

    2020 October 17, @maine_gov, Twitter, archived from the original on 18 Jul 2024

    [O]ppenheimer? i hardly know her!

    2023 June 22, @abigail_j_lee, Twitter, archived from the original on 16 Jul 2024

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
i hardly even know her

Origin

From the fact that a word ending in /əɹ/ (usually ⟨-er⟩ or ⟨-or⟩) sounds like a verb followed by “her” as the direct object.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

I hardly know her. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/I%20hardly%20know%20her

MLA

“I hardly know her.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/I%20hardly%20know%20her. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “I hardly know her,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/I%20hardly%20know%20her.

Source: I hardly know her on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.