as it were

Meanings

1. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see as, it, were.
2. Used to indicate that a word or statement is perhaps not exact though practically right; as if it were so.
3. Used to draw attention to the use of a metaphor, sometimes to prevent confusion or to highlight wordplay.

Etymology

From Middle English as it were, as hyt were, als it were, als hit were, from Old English *ealswā hit wǣre, attested only as swā hit wǣre and swylċe hit wǣre (“as it were”, literally “as it would be”). Compare Dutch als het ware.