quote-unquote

interjection

1. an expression used before or part before and part after a quotation to identify it as such, and sometimes to dissociate the writer or speaker from it

Example Sentences

“A lot of what this season is about is his efforts to break away and start his own separate normal life and the vampires then following him to quote-unquote help him on his way in the real world,” says “Shadows” showrunner and executive producer Paul Simms.

From Los Angeles Times

Somewhat surprisingly, given that they’re so similar to previously reported accounts, the Hitler comments seem to have gotten more attention than Trump’s alleged disgust at the idea that a quote-unquote “Mexican” woman—in fact a native-born American—had received a burial with an upper-class price.

From Slate

Back then, I didn’t realize we were in the quote-unquote ghetto or in the hood or anything — I didn’t really know the difference.

From Los Angeles Times

Sister Unity added: “There’s a level of inclusion now across the board. I observed that this was a cultural revolution in a small sense in America, where the quote-unquote weirdos were all of a sudden not put to the side so that the assimilated-looking people and the suits and ties could speak for us. We were given the microphone. We were put at the spear point of the movement and allowed to represent what is queer, which was different and wonderful.”

From Los Angeles Times

And it’s because they’re humans and not just quote-unquote Vietnamese people that we’ve been told growing up.

From Salon