τρόπος του λέγειν

Translations

• so to speak
• as it were
• in a manner of speaking

Literal Translation

way of the saying

Forms

Usage Notes

Always used parenthetically to qualify or soften a statement. The genitive infinitive 'του λέγειν' is an archaic construction that survives only in this fixed expression.

Etymology

Classical Greek phrase literally meaning 'way of speaking' that has been preserved in modern Greek as a formal expression for qualifying or softening a statement

Cultural Context

Used in formal writing and speech to indicate that the speaker is using a term metaphorically or approximately, often when introducing a foreign word or concept as in this text

• Think 'tropical legend' - a fancy way of saying something
• Remember 'tropos' (way/manner) + 'legein' (to say) = a way of saying