in so many words

US /ɪn soʊ ˈmɛni wɜrdz/
UK /ɪn soʊ ˈmɛni wɜrdz/
"in so many words" picture
1.

explicitly or directly; in plain terms

:
She didn't say in so many words that she was leaving, but her actions made it clear.
He never admitted in so many words that he was wrong, but he did apologize.