suffice it to say

Idioms and Phrases

It is enough to say this and no more, as in Suffice it to say that the judge was furious when the invitation was withdrawn . [Late 1600s]

More About Suffice It To Say

What does suffice it to say mean?

Suffice it to say is a phrase used to indicate that what’s about to be said will be enough for someone to fully understand the situation, even though there is a fuller explanation.

It is often used in a somewhat humorous way to indicate that what is being said is an understatement, as in Suffice it to say that the cat did not enjoy her bath. 

The phrase is sometimes shortened to suffice to say. 

The word suffice means “to be enough” or “to satisfy.” So, the phrase implies that the information that’s being provided should be all another person needs to understand the situation. The speaker thinks the situation is easily understood or that the listener can easily guess what really happened.

Suffice it to say is most often used at the beginning of a sentence, but it can be inserted into the middle of a sentence for emphasis, as in He forgot her birthday and, suffice it to say, she was pretty angry.    

Suffice it to say can also be used to indicate that the speaker is only giving a short explanation of something. Similar phrases include let’s just say and all I’m going to say.

Example: Suffice it to say that the queen was unamused by the jester’s decision to make jokes about her favorite gown.

Where does suffice it to say come from?

The first records of the phrase suffice it to say come from around the late 1600s. It is possible that the phrase originated as an alternate way to say “it is sufficient to say.”

Suffice it to say is used in much the same way as similar phrases, such as needless to say and it goes without saying, which indicate that the information given is obvious and needs no further details or explanation.

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What are some other forms related to suffice it to say?

• suffice to say

What are some synonyms for suffice it to say?

• let’s just say
• all I’m going to say
• needless to say
• it goes without saying

What are some words that share a root or word element with suffice it to say?

• suffice
• say
• a word to the wise is sufficient

What are some words that often get used in discussing suffice it to say?

• explanation
• obvious
• state
• speak

How is suffice it to say used in real life?

Suffice it to say is commonly used when giving a short explanation of something. It’s often used to be a bit humorous.

Ex-Redskins CB Josh Norman confirmed his release with a 👍 emoji. Asked him if he's got anything to say on it, he said, "just did."

Suffice it to say, he's excited to see what's out there.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) February 14, 2020

Tomorrow I present oral argument in the Texas Supreme Court on the rule against perpetuities. Friday I present a CLE on the law of injected saltwater and frac liquid migration. Suffice it to say I’m a load of fun at parties.

— Ryan Clinton (@ryanclinton) January 8, 2020

There are so many things wrong with our criminal justice system I don’t know where to start. Suffice it to say that it’s beyond repair.

— MirriamZary 🇦🇫 (@mirriam71) October 27, 2020

 

 

Try using suffice it to say!

Is suffice it to say used correctly in the following sentence?

I won’t go into details about how I broke my arm, but suffice it to say that trying to wrestle a banana away from a wild chimpanzee is a bad idea.