So-called meaning in English

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Definition

so-called: alleged, supposed, known as adjective
This so-called "discount" you're offering is only 10 cents. I spent more than that on the petrol needed to get here!

Examples

  • "She'll be there at the end of the day, around 6:00 pm. I suggest that you clean up your so-called "love nest": champagne bottles, chocolates and mood music might give Miss Stake the wrong impression."
  • "We've been hearing rumors about a so-called "man in the moon"."
  • "The highest rates of weight gain per second were localized in the mid-west and the south (the so-called Fat Belt), however weight gain was steady from coast to coast, from California to New York."
Exercise 1
Polly writes about Philip's "love nest".
She is probably referring to:

Polly writes about Philip's "love nest".
She is probably referring to:
A nest is literally a mix of twigs, sticks and branches used by birds to lay, and warm eggs until they hatch. Philip, being a human male, is not capable of laying eggs. However, if he were a female, he would be viviparous, in other words he would nourish the embryo within his placenta rather than producing an egg. But we're getting off track, aren't we?
Polly is actually referring to Philip's office when she writes about his "love nest", not Philip's appearance. A nest is a location.
Polly is actually referring to Philip's office when she writes about his "love nest", not Philip's reputation. A nest is a location, and not a characteristic.
Polly is actually referring to Philip's office when she writes about his "love nest", not Philip's personality. A nest is a location, and not a characteristic.
Polly is referring to Philip's office when she writes about his "so-called love nest". In this context, the adjective "so-called" indicates something "doubtful", "dubious" or "suspect". Polly is skeptical that Philip's office is really a love-nest (an ideal place for romance), or she feels that Philip is silly for calling it a love nest. A "love nest" is a term used to refer to a romantic location. Polly is suggesting that Philip clean up his office, specifically, she wants him to remove the champagne bottles, and chocolates.

Excerpt: I suggest that you clean up your so-called "love nest": champagne bottles, chocolates and mood music might give Miss Stake the wrong impression.

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