shall we say

adverb

Used to make a statement less offensive, by way of euphemism.

“Your son's behaviour at school has been, shall we say, "difficult".”

Similar
shall I say
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Meanings

adverb
  1. Used to make a statement less offensive, by way of euphemism.

    Your son's behaviour at school has been, shall we say, "difficult".

  2. Used as a warning that the description may be imprecise.

    Synonyms: shall I say

  3. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see shall, we, say.

Synonyms & antonyms

adverbUsed as a warning that the description may be imprecise.

Similar
shall I say
Also see
shall i say

Translations

German gewissermaßen, quasi
  • gewissermaßento make a statement less offensive
  • quasito make a statement less offensive
  • mehr oder wenigerto make a statement less offensive
  • sagen wir malas a warning that the description may be imprecise or a private opinion
  • wie man es ausdrücken könnteas a warning that the description may be imprecise or a private opinion
  • sozusagenas a warning that the description may be imprecise or a private opinion
Spanish digamos
  • digamosto make a statement less offensive
Cite this entry
APA

shall we say. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shall%20we%20say

MLA

“shall we say.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shall%20we%20say. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “shall we say,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/shall%20we%20say.

Source: shall we say on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.