I hardly know her
A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“When he said he liked her dress, I joked, I hardly know her!”
“He says, "I hardly know her!" every time someone mentions the word dinner.”
“My friend mentioned he was really enjoying the new manager, and I couldn't resist saying, I hardly know her!”
“After the waiter asked if I wanted more butter for my bread, my brother immediately shouted, "Butter? I hardly know her!"”
“When the teacher started talking about the planet Jupiter, a student in the back row whispered, "Jupiter? I hardly know her!"”
“The comedian relied on the classic I hardly know her retort whenever a word ending in a similar sound provided an opening for a crude joke.”
The term arises from the phonological coincidence of the English suffix -er or -or, pronounced /əɹ/, with the phrase "her" used as a direct object. It functions as a pun on the preceding noun, treating the word as a transitive verb directed at a woman with whom the speaker claims a lack of prior acquaintance.
- 01
as far as one knows
To the best of one's knowledge, as far as someone knows or possible information to be gathered about the topic, subject, aspect, or situation.
- 02
as you know
as it is already known.
- 03
fuck if I know
I have no idea whatsoever
- 04
fuck knows
I don't know; nobody knows; it is unclear.
- 05
hell if I know
Synonym of I don't know.
- 06
I don't know about that
I am not sure that I agree; expressing doubt or skepticism.
- 07
it takes one to know one
Expressing the same underlying character-judgment themes as pot calling the kettle black or set a thief to catch a thief.
- 08
know beans about
To know nothing, or almost nothing, about.
Last updated August 10, 2026