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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Is this a phrase?

The new ruling was, shall we say, a trifle ambitious.




I knew he could act, shall we say, in a rather temperamental fashion.




Hello. I am confused as to what 'shall we say' is as a phrase. Can you help?




Thanks




Steve
  

Top answer

Hi Steve, Usually we say "shall we say" before we describe something unpleasant in nicer terms. It is understating the problem on purpose, and the phrase "shall we say" is the clue that you know it's worse than what you said. " Among other reasons to use it is that no one can say to Jenna that I called her son a horrible, spoiled brat.

— BarbaraPA

  • Hi Steve, Usually we say "shall we say" before we describe something unpleasant in nicer terms.
  • It is understating the problem on purpose, and the phrase "shall we say" is the clue that you know it's worse than what you said.
  • " Among other reasons to use it is that no one can say to Jenna that I called her son a horrible, spoiled brat.
  • All I said was that he was difficult.
  • It keeps you from being rude when you describe someone or something else.
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2 Answers
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Hi Steve,

Usually we say "shall we say" before we describe something unpleasant in nicer terms.

It is understating the problem on purpose, and the phrase "shall we say" is the clue that you know it's worse than what you said.

If someone's son is a horrible, spoiled brat, but I know that calling him that is rude, I might say something like "Jenna's son is a bit, shall we
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Thank you very much for the prompt answer. Can I ask: is "shall we say" an example of a verb phrase?
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