17th century idiom.
A formal deductive logical device used in a
debate that simultaneously agrees and disagrees with any proceeding statement or argument.
See also "It's a dog-
eat-dog
world, Winston Churchill said that."
A: Al you old son of
a bitch, how you doing? how you feel about the Dolphins? That call last night was aweful.
B: As far as I see it, you can pay the
barber, but you can't buy him
breakfast.