Not so very

[moseen]

Hello everybody!
I want to know in the sentence below, what does "so very" mean? Do "so" and "very" have the same meaning or not?

Most of her ideas are not so very original.

 

[GoesStation]

So intensifies "very". Not so very original​ means "not all that original".

 

[moseen]

So intensifies "very". Not so very original​ means "not all that original".

Isn't "so very" like "very, very"?

 

[GoesStation]

Isn't "so very" like "very, very"?

Yes, it could be.

 

[GoesStation]

Is[STRIKE]n't[/STRIKE] "so very" like "very, very"?

See above. It's illogical, but we ask Isn't something like something else when we want to emphasize our belief that the things are actually similar. If you don't have a strong belief that the thing is true, don't use isn't to pose a question.

For example: I just saw Mary and Joe with their arms around each other. Isn't Mary engaged to Henry? The speaker is surprised that Mary, whom s/he thinks is engaged to marry Henry, is being publicly intimate with another man.