# that's what she said

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/thats-what-she-said
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

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

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.