元はと言えば

もとはといえば

when it comes to the cause; when you get right down to it; as for what started it; as for the reason; originally

何かと言えば

なにかといえば

on the least pretext, at the drop of a hat

右と言えば左

みぎといえばひだり

always contradicting what other people say

鑿と言えば槌

のみといえばつち

one should do more than what is literally being asked for; when told (to bring) the chisel, (also bring) the mallet

ツーと言えばカー

ツーといえばカー

quick to take a hint; very responsive; quick on the uptake

ツーと言えばカーだ

ツーといえばカーだ

to be quick to take a hint, to be very responsive, to be quick on the uptake

あまりと言えば

あまりといえば

excessively

どっちかと言えば

どっちかといえば

if anything; if pushed I'd say; if I had to say

どちらかと言えば

どちらかといえば

if pushed I'd say, if I had to say then

言えば

いえば

speaking of

とは言え

とはいえ

though, although, be that as it may, nonetheless

と言えど

といえど

be (that) as it may, having said that

そう言えば

そういえば

which reminds me..., come to think of it..., now that you mention it..., on that subject..., so, if you say...

逆に言えば

ぎゃくにいえば

if anything; conversely; putting it the other way around; coming at it from the opposite angle

実を言えば

じつをいえば

as a matter of fact, to tell the truth

欲を言えば

よくをいえば

ideally; if one were to wish for more

早く言えば

はやくいえば

in a word, to put it briefly, to make a long story short

例えて言うと

たとえていうと

figuratively speaking, metaphorically speaking, so to speak, to use a figure of speech

と言うと

というと

if one were to speak of..., then certainly, if it were the case that..., then certainly, if it were a..., then certainly, phrase used to indicate the inevitability of what follows it (based on what precedes it)