figuratively speaking; metaphorically speaking; so to speak
Used to introduce a figurative or metaphorical explanation, often to make an abstract idea easier to understand.
Life, figuratively speaking, is like a long journey.
His feelings were, so to speak, like being lost in a maze.
Standard kanji-kana mixed spelling.
Kana spelling for the first part; common in informal writing.
From 例える (to compare, to liken) in the te-form + 言う (to say) + conditional と, literally 'if one says it by comparing'.