I hardly know her

English Alternative forms en I hardly even know her en I hardly know 'er Etymology From the fact that a word ending in /əɹ/ (usually ⟨-er⟩ or ⟨-or⟩) sounds like a verb followed by “her” as the direct object. Pronunciation en if possible get an audio with the more common intonation of this phrase en /aɪ ˈhɑɹd.li noʊ həɹ/ [aɪ ˈhɑɹd.li noʊ‿əɹ] US en LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-I hardly know her.wav US Phrase phr en humorous idiomatic A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar. en Person 1: My face is breaking out again, I gotta go buy new cleanser.Person 2: Cleanser? I hardly know her! en 2007 The Office (American TV series) The Office 3 19 Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson (actor) Craig Robinson): How many people a year do you think get their arms cut off in a baler?Michael Scott (Steve Carrell Steve Carrell): Baler? I hardly know her. en 27 October 2020 maine_gov 1321213521858879488 https://web.archive.org/web/20220307113905/https://twitter.com/maine_gov/status/1321213521858879488 7 March 2022 Bangor? I hardly know her! *the audience erupts in laughter as I do a silly little dance* en 22 June 2023 abigail_j_lee 1671896086007652354 [O]ppenheimer? i hardly know her! Usage notes The word used as the subject of the retort is always restated just before the retort is made. In common usage, the retort is made with almost any noun ending in /əɹ/, regardless of possible sexual innuendo, for humorous effect. Further reading I hardly know her