or something
Casual trailing hedge
Or something is a tag added to soften a statement or suggest vagueness about details.
It can signal uncertainty: Maybe we could get coffee or something.
It can downplay precision: He's a lawyer or something.
It often appears when the speaker doesn't want to commit fully to what they've just said, leaving room for alternatives or correction.
- thingUnspecified entity or matter
- and whatnotVague list extender
- stuffUnspecified items collectively
- and so forthSignals additional examples
- you knowFiller seeking confirmation
sort of thing · or whatever · you know what I mean · shrug · guess · gesture · trailing off · hand wave · handwave · et cetera · depends · doodad · whatever · um · maybe · mumble · imprecisely · perhaps
or somethingexactly
With total accuracy
precisely · specifically · namely · in particular · that is to say
or somethingdefinitely
With complete certainty
certainly · absolutely · without a doubt · positively · no question