Idiom Breakdown

I hardly know her

//aɪ ˈhɑɹd.li noʊ‿əɹ//

USHUMOROUS American English

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Definition

A joking retort that draws attention to the possibility of sexual innuendo when a word ends with a schwar.

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From the fact that a word ending in /əɹ/ (usually ⟨-er⟩ or ⟨-or⟩) sounds like a verb followed by “her” as the direct object.

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"Person 1: My face is breaking out again, I gotta go buy new cleanser. Person 2: Cleanser? I hardly know her!"
"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."
"Bangor? I hardly know her! *the audience erupts in laughter as I do a silly little dance*"
"[O]ppenheimer? i hardly know her!"