The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 2 plus 2 plus 5 letter word SO TO SPEAK
I've seen this crossword clue in Financial Times
S
O
T
O
S
P
E
A
K
More clues leading to the result SO TO SPEAK
- Ben follows drunk sailor, but not literally
- Drunk sailor on a high, as one might say
- Drunkard approaching very big climax, as it were
- Drunkard consequently flipped over and fell, as it were
- Against interrupting call for help on top of mountain as it were
- As if drunk, thus lying back on the roof
- Pesto mixture left in marinade, as it were
- As it were, use a needle cryptically?
- Help round to summit, as it were
- Big drinker with enormous height, as you might say
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "as it were" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case as it were = so to speak.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.