that's what she said
A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo in what was just said.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“He said it was too big, and I replied, that's what she said.”
“I tell him it is too long, and he laughs, that's what she said.”
“When my coworker complained that the tool was hard to handle, I could not help but say, that's what she said.”
“You should be careful because this surface is extremely slippery, my brother warned, and I immediately replied, that's what she said.”
“My friend complained that he could not get the key into the hole, so I naturally shouted, that's what she said, from the other room.”
“In a moment of juvenile humor, he seized upon the ambiguous phrasing of the presentation to interject with a well-timed, that's what she said.”
First attested in the early 20th century, the phrase functions as a double entendre where she refers to the speaker's imagined sexual partner. The attribution of the remark to a third party provides a thin layer of detachment for the speaker, though the identity of the woman in question remains entirely hypothetical.
- 01
ain't what it used to was
Is not what it used to be; (expressing nostalgia).
- 02
come what may
In spite of anything that might happen; whatever may occur.
- 03
do exactly what it says on the tin
To do what is described or what one would expect, with no further explanation needed.
- 04
do what
An intensified version of what? or huh?, expressing surprise or lack of comprehension
- 05
easier said than done
Easy to propose, but difficult to accomplish.
- 06
final say
The right to make a final decision.
- 07
get what one asked for
Synonym of get what's coming to one.
- 08
give someone what-for
To admonish or berate; to speak angrily at somebody.
Last updated August 10, 2026