Phrase guide

that's what she said

phrase · 1 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

phrase

Meaning 1

A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo in what was just said.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous, idiomatic

Examples

  • Coordinate term: that's what he said
  • Arthur: "That assignment took me all week to finish. It was so long and hard." Bob: "That's what she said."

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

First attested in the early 20th century. She refers to the speaker's imagined sexual partner.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: det sagde hun også i går — retort
  • Dutch: dat zei mijn vrouw vannacht ook — retort
  • Finnish: ...sano entinen likka! — retort
  • German: das hat sie gesagt — retort
  • German: das hat sie auch gesagt — retort
  • Norwegian Bokmål: sa brura — retort
  • Spanish: eso fue lo que ella dijo — retort
  • Swedish: ...sade flickan. — retort