Word.ws English Dictionary

that's as may be

that's as may be phrase: even if that is the case; acknowledging another's point before introducing a more pertinent one.

Phrase

that's as may be

  1. (UK) Even if that is the case; acknowledging another's point before introducing a more pertinent one.
    • They claimed they were following procedure. That's as may be, but it was still wrong given the circumstances.
    • “Well, here it is,” said Silver. “We want that treasure, and we’ll have it—that’s our point! You would just as soon save your lives, I reckon; and that’s yours. You have a chart, haven’t you?”
      “That’s as may be,” replied the captain.1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Silver’s Embassy”, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC, part IV (The Stockade), page 162

Questions about that's as may be

What does that's as may be mean?
That's as may be means even if that is the case; acknowledging another's point before introducing a more pertinent one.
What part of speech is that's as may be?
That's as may be is a phrase.

Words near that's as may be in the dictionary

  1. that's all
  2. that's all Greek to me
  3. that's all she wrote
  4. that's all there is to it
  5. that's all, folks
  6. that's as may be
  7. that's done it
  8. that's enough
  9. that's flat
  10. that's for me to know and you to find out
  11. that's Greek to me

Source and license

Adapted from Wiktionary: that's as may be (page history and authors). Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws reformatted the entry and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.

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