Quote, unquote

Meaning

The idiom "quote, unquote" is a verbal indicator used to show that the words that follow are not meant to be taken literally but are being used figuratively. It is often used in situations where it is important to clarify that what is being said is not intended to be taken as factual or accurate but rather as an expression of opinion or viewpoint.

Usage

• "I don't want you to take my words out of context, quote, unquote. I was just joking around."
• "She always says that she's fine, quote, unquote, but I can tell she's struggling."
• "I'm not saying I agree with their policy, quote, unquote, but I think it could work in certain situations."
• "He always talks about how successful he is, quote, unquote, but I know he's struggling to make ends meet."
• "She said she was going to lose weight, quote, unquote, but I saw her eating a giant burger an hour ago."

Roots and History

The origin of the idiom "quote, unquote" is not clear, but it has been used in English since at least the 19th century. Its meaning has remained relatively consistent over time, with the phrase being used to clarify that what follows is intended to be understood figuratively or metaphorically.

Synonyms in English

• "I don't want you to take my words out of context, quote-unquote."
• "She always says that she's fine, quote-unquote, but I can tell she's struggling."
• "He always talks about how successful he is, quote-unquote, but I know he's struggling to make ends meet."
• "She said she was going to lose weight, quote-unquote, but I saw her eating a giant burger an hour ago."

Synonyms in other languages

• In French, the equivalent idiom is "en direct" (directly) or "à savoir" (to know).
• In Spanish, it is "literalmente" (literally) or "figurativamente" (figuratively).
• In German, the phrase is "in der Tat" (actually) or "im Gegenteil" (on the contrary).

Similar Idioms

• as busy as a bee

• new kid on the block

• aftermath