“If You Will” Meaning (Plus, How To Use This Phrase)

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Explaining what this polite, English phrase means

Co-authored by Devin McSween Reviewed by Seth Hall

Last Updated: September 16, 2024 Fact Checked

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• “If You Will” Meanings
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• When & How to Use “If You Will”
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• “I Will If You Will” Meaning
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• Similar Phrases

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You’ve probably heard people say the phrase “If you will,” but what does it actually mean? “If you will” has 2 common meanings: it can be used as an idiom to say “If you wish to call it that” or as a polite phrase to make a request sound nicer. In this article, we’ll go over what “If you will” means, when and how to use it, and what other phrases mean the same thing. Read on to learn more!

“If You Will” Definition

“If you will” is an idiom that’s used after an expression or phrase that may be considered unusual, uncommon, or metaphorical in nature. It essentially means, “If you want to call it that” or “If you’ll allow it.” “If you will” can also be used before or after a request to make it sound more polite.

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Section 1 of 4:

What does “If you will” mean?

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   “If you will” is used to acknowledge that a phrase is unique or uncommon. “If you will” is a polite idiom that literally means “If you wish to call it that” or “If you allow me to describe it like that.” People say this phrase to qualify an expression that other people might find unusual, uncommon, or incorrect. For instance, you often say it after a metaphorical phrase to acknowledge that it’s strange or to make a shocking expression sound more agreeable.

   • “I’ve never seen someone so stressed out. She looked like she was trying to steer a boat out of the path of an iceberg, if you will.”
   • “This place is a complete mess, a pigsty, if you will.”
   • Note: In this phrase, “will” is not used as an auxiliary verb to form the future tense (e.g., “I will run”). Instead, “will” means “to wish” or “to want.” This is the Old English definition of “will” and is considered archaic except when used in phrases like “If you will” and “If there’s a will, there’s a way.”
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   “If you will” is a polite way to ask someone to do something. People often say “If you will” before or after they make a request. Adding this phrase to their request helps make it sound more gentle and polite.

   • “If you will, lock the door on your way out.”
   • “Imagine, if you will, a pool in the backyard. This house has so much potential.”
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Section 2 of 4:

When and How to Use “If You Will”

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   Say “If you will” after using a unique phase in formal or casual situations. When you say a phrase or analogy that might be unfamiliar or odd to other people, add “If you will” after it to make your statement sound more agreeable or polite. This term has a more formal sound, so it’s appropriate to use it at work, in school, or with your friends and family.

   • “You are barking up the wrong tree, if you will. Matt sees you as competition, so he’s not going to help you out.”
   • “The cake is way too sweet. It tastes like a candy factory, if you will.”
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   Use “If you will” to make a request in formal situations. If you’re leading a meeting with important clients at work or serving customers at a fancy restaurant and need to ask them to do something, add “If you will” to your request. This Old English phrase has a formal and elegant tone, which helps you sound more polite and classy.

   • “If you will, follow me to the conference room to get this meeting started.”
   • “If you will, put away your phones at the table. This is a device-free restaurant.”
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Section 3 of 4:

“I Will If You Will” Meaning

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   This phrase means you will do something if someone does, too. “I will if you will” is a common phrase that indicates you are only willing to do something if the person you’re talking to agrees to do it as well. For instance, you might say this when you’re challenged to a dare or want to convince someone to do something with you.

   • Them: “I dare you to try the super spicy chicken wings!”
     You: “I will if you will!”
   • Them: “I know we should do our homework, but I really don’t want to.”
     You: “I will if you will! We can work together and get it done quicker.”

Section 4 of 4:

Similar Phrases to “If You Will”

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   “So to speak” also refers to saying an unusual or uncommon phrase. “So to speak” is another phrase that you say after using a unique expression or analogy. Like “If you will,” this phrase acknowledges the fact that the phrase you used might be unusual or silly.

   • “Being late to work was a blessing in disguise, so to speak. I didn’t have to deal with the power outage like everyone else.”
   • Other similar phrases include:
     • “In a manner of speaking…”
     • “That is to say…”
     • “One might say…”
     • “If you like…”
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   “If you please” is also a polite way to make a request. “If you please” is another fancy-sounding phrase that helps make a request sound courteous and respectful. It’s also appropriate to use in formal situations.

   • “If you please, take off your shoes before coming inside.”
   • Other similar phrases include:
     • “If you would be so kind…”
     • “Kindly…”
     • “Please…”
     • “If you wouldn’t mind…”
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