by the way

by the way & by the by

1. a phrase indicating that the speaker is adding information. (

By the by

is not as frequent.) •

Tom: Is this one any good? Clerk: This is the largest and, by the way, the most expensive one we have in stock.

•

Bill: I'm a realtor. Is your house for sale? Alice: My house is not for sale, and, by the way, I too am a realtor.

2. a phrase indicating that the speaker is casually opening a new subject. •

Bill: Oh, by the way, Fred, do you still have that hammer you borrowed from me? Fred: I'll check. I thought I gave it back.

•

Jane: By the by, don't you owe me some money? Sue: Who, me?

* * *

also[by the bye] {adv. phr.} Just as some added fact or news; as something else that I think of. - Used to introduce something related to the general subject, or brought to mind by it. * /We shall expect you; by the way, dinner will be at eight./ * /I was reading when the earthquake occurred, and, by the way, it was The Last Days of Pompeii that I was reading./