quote unquote

Definition

Emphasizes the following (or sometimes preceding) word or phrase for irony, or marks it as not the normal sense of the term. Used almost exclusively in spoken language. In written language, quotation marks would be used instead.

Etymology

From quote + unquote, a spoken equivalent of air quotes, used to express satire, sarcasm, irony or euphemism, analogous to scare quotes in print.

Example Sentences

• "Maybe you should ask your quote unquote friend what happened to the money."
• "`We're a young quote-unquote club. [...] In time, it will become a club.'"
• "“Brandishing weapons and leaning into gun culture is viewed as revolutionary, and by revolutionary I mean, in their minds, the most virtuous sense, as defenders of quote unquote America,” he says."