とばかり

thinking that; as if to say

→ と

phrase Rare #42,291

thinking that; as if to say Often appears as とばかり思う or とばかり思っていた, meaning “to assume or firmly believe that.” In とばかりに, it means “as if to say” or “as though,” often describing someone acting with a particular attitude.

JA: 彼はもう帰ったとばかり思っていた。

EN: I thought he had already gone home.

クルーはぼくが死んだとばかり思っていただろう

The crew must have thought I was dead.

— オデッセイ (2015)

天気がよいのでこれは幸いとばかりテニスをした。

Taking advantage of the nice weather, I played tennis.