I must say

English

Adverb

I must say (not comparable)

1. A term of asseveration.
   • 1844, Benjamin Disraeli, Coningsby, etc, page 265:

     “I must say, I was very happy when I met Mr. Coningsby again at Cambridge,” said Lady Wallinger. “It gave me much greater pleasure than seeing any of the colleges.”

Usage notes

• It is usually set off from the rest of the sentence by commas.

Synonyms

• indeed, forsooth, in fact, as God is my witness