I hardly know her

English

Alternative forms

• I hardly even know her
• I hardly know 'er

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /aɪ ˈhɑɹd.li noʊ‿əɹ/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Phrase

I hardly know her

1. (US, humorous, idiomatic) A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar.

   Person 1: My face is breaking out again, I gotta go buy new cleanser.
   Person 2: Cleanser? I hardly know her!

   • 2007, The Office, season 3, episode 19:

     Darryl Philbin (Craig Robinson): How many people a year do you think get their arms cut off in a baler?
     Michael Scott (Steve Carrell): Baler? I hardly know her.

   • 2020 October 17, @maine_gov, Twitter‎^[1], archived from the original on 18 July 2024:

     Bangor? I hardly know her! *the audience erupts in laughter as I do a silly little dance*

   • 2023 June 22, @abigail_j_lee, Twitter‎^[2], archived from the original on 16 July 2024:

     [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 regardless of possible sexual innuendo for humorous effect.

Further reading

• “I hardly know her”, in Urban Dictionary, launched 1999.