He"s flown from the nest, together it were.
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... Would indicate that a boy has actually left his parent"s house, via the "flown native the nest" idiom. But, why does "as it were" clarify that this is one idiom?

Interesting thought: the as it were could be an idiom, provided to emphasize the something rather in the sentence is also an idiom.
Merriam-Webster"s online dictionary defines as it were thusly:
as the were : as if it to be so; in a path of speaking
Wordnik lists this synonyms:
so come speak in a way in a way of speaking
It"s an example of brickandmortarphilly.com subjunctive the atmosphere (one that the irrealis moods).
This details example is a collection phrase (relic from an older form of the language wherein it was much much more common) whereby subjunctive needs to be employed.

It is used, in the words of the Oxford brickandmortarphilly.com Dictionary, ‘as a parenthetic expression . . . To show that a native or declare is possibly not formally exact though almost right’. It’s really old, being first recorded roughly 1200.

"As that were..." indicates that the atmosphere of the sentence or clause is subjunctive, viz. A counter-factual or improbable hypothetical is gift provisionally taken as true in the sentence.
See more: Define The Term Cbd In One Word, Central Business District

It is a filler expression that method nothing in modern brickandmortarphilly.com. It makes one look much less than intelligent because it sounds choose you room "trying" to sound smart - which renders one look ______.
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