Meanings
- datedas if one should say, as if to say; so to say; in a manner of speaking.
As who ſhould ſay, I am ſir an Oracle, / And when I ope my lips, let no dogge bark.
c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 164, column 12 more examples
He doth nothing but frowne, as who ſhould ſay, and you will not haue me, chooſe : he heares merrie tales and ſmiles not […]
c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], page 165, column 1The clowdy Meſſenger turnes me his backe, / And hums; as who ſhould ſay, you'l rue the time / That clogges me with this Anſwer.
c. 1606 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Macbeth”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene vi], page 143, column 2
Origin
- Frenchcomme qui dirait
- Englishas who should say
Probably a calque of French comme qui dirait/diroit.
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
as who should say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20who%20should%20say
“as who should say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20who%20should%20say. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “as who should say,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/as%20who%20should%20say.
Source: as who should say on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.