shall we say

shall we say

English

Adverb

shall we say

1. (parenthesis) Used to make a statement less offensive. (Can we add an example for this sense?)

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

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

   Synonym: shall I say

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

Translations

to make a statement less offensive

German: gewissermaßen (de), quasi (de), mehr oder weniger

as a warning that the description may be imprecise or a private opinion

German: sagen wir mal, wie man es ausdrücken könnte, sozusagen (de)

Further reading

• “shall we say”, in Collins English Dictionary.
• “shall i we say” (US) / “shall i we say” (UK) in Macmillan English Dictionary.
• “shall i we say” in Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, Longman.