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"quite to the point" and "as it were"

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kjc0123 | 05:13 Fri 08th Apr 2005 | Phrases & Sayings
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What is the exact meaning(and nuance) of "quite to the point" and "as it were" in the following sentences?


"^" 
"This symbol is the original icon for male," he told her. "A rudimentary phallus."
"Quite to the point," Sophie said.
"As it were," Teabing added.

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When Sophie says "quite to the point", she is delicately saying that the person who is talking about the phallus is being very blunt, very descriptive, and possibly embarrassing her.  When Teabing adds "as it were", he's being rather sly, making a pun of sorts to the phallic object, and the point.  In other words, Sophie is already embarrassed by the subject matter, and Teabing is adding to her discomfort by pointing out her unintentional pun.

Quite to the point = exactly on the subject.

Clearly using this phrase is also a pun.

Teabing by saying as it were  - oo she is making a pun.

The tense in as it were is a subjunctive. Although Shakespeare had a use for them, the English never use them except in catch phrases, like so be it, as it were and other.

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"quite to the point" and "as it were"

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