that's what she said

First attested in the early 20th century. "She" refers to the speaker's imagined sexual partner.

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• Audio (US)

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• Audio (AU)

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that's what she said

1. (US, humorous, idiomatic) A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo in what was just said.

   Coordinate term: that's what he said

   • 2008 March 2, Ron Fletcher, “In the Internet Age, a few lessons about bad jokes, good taste”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 7 Apr. 2009:

     Some seemed bored and irritated by the priapic yahooism and overwillingness of peers to read a sexual double entendre into the most innocuous remark. "No matter what you say," said one student, "someone is going to respond with ‘That's what she said.’ "

   • 2008 November 24, Rick Broida, “Quick Tip: Increase the Font Size in Your Browser”, in PCWorld.com, retrieved 7 Apr. 2009:

     So this morning we pulled up a pumpkin-pancake recipe on the kitchen laptop. Just one problem: My wife couldn't read it from where she was mixing. "Can't you make it bigger?" she asked. (Go ahead, insert your own "that's what she said" joke here. No class.)

• innuendo
• as the actress said to the bishop
• nudge nudge wink wink
• I've never heard it called that before
• get one's mind out of the gutter