💡 What Does In So Many Words Mean? The idiom in so many words means saying something directly, explicitly, or without sugarcoating it . It usually refers to how something is expressed—often bluntly or plainly—even if not word-for-word. Example Meaning: If someone says, “He told me, in so many words , that I wasn’t qualified,” it means he didn’t say it exactly that way, but the message was very clear. 📜 Origin and Background of In So Many Words The phrase in so many words dates back to the 16th or 17th century and is believed to have originated from the idea of counting or quoting exact words from a statement. Early uses in literature and legal writing involved quoting someone "in so many words" to mean “word-for-word.” Over time, the idiom evolved to suggest not just literal quoting, but making the meaning unmistakably clear , even if the words are paraphrased. 🗓 When and How Is In So Many Words Used? This idiom is commonly used when: You want to describe h...