Used to indicate that what follows is so obvious or expected that it hardly needs to be mentioned, though the speaker mentions it anyway.
This phrase developed in the 19th century as a more explicit version of similar expressions about obviousness. It acknowledges the redundancy while proceeding anyway, creating a rhetorical device that actually emphasizes rather than minimizes the importance of what follows.
Like 'it goes without saying,' this phrase creates emphasis through the pretense of de-emphasis - by claiming something doesn't need to be said while saying it anyway, speakers actually draw more attention to their point. It's a sophisticated rhetorical strategy disguised as casual speech.
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