in a manner of speaking

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this is one way to say it so to speak “We should go south.” “So that means I should turn left?” “In a manner of speaking, yes.” She was, in a manner of speaking, not at her best – in fact, she was exhausted and had the flu.

Usage notes: sometimes used to suggest that something unpleasant is being described in a more pleasant way

Related vocabulary: if you will

See also: manner, speaking

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? References in classic literature
It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions. Tales of Unrest by Conrad, Joseph View in context She would swear the same, in a manner of speaking, before chaplain. Treasure Island by Stevenson, Robert Louis View in context --I knowed the man by sight as well as I know my own brother, in a manner of speaking. Tess of the d'Urbervilles - A Pure Woman by Hardy, Thomas View in context More results

? References in classic literature

It is the first short story I ever wrote and marks, in a manner of speaking, the end of my first phase, the Malayan phase with its special subject and its verbal suggestions.

Tales of Unrest by Conrad, Joseph View in context

She would swear the same, in a manner of speaking, before chaplain.

Treasure Island by Stevenson, Robert Louis View in context

--I knowed the man by sight as well as I know my own brother, in a manner of speaking.

Tess of the d'Urbervilles - A Pure Woman by Hardy, Thomas View in context

More results

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in a heartbeat
in a huff
in a jam
in a jiffy
in a lather
in a little bit
in a mad rush
in a manner of speaking
in a month of Sundays
in a New York minute
in a nut shell
in a nutshell
in a pickle
in a pig's eye
In a pig's eye!

in a jiffy
in a lather
In A Lifetime
in a light
in a light
in a light
in a light
in a light
in a light
in a light
in a line
In A Little Bit
In A Little Bit
In a Little Red Barn (on a Farm down in Indiana)
In a Little Spanish Town
In a Little While

In a Little While
In a Lonely Place
in a low voice
in a low voice
in a low voice
in a mad rush
In a Major Way
in a manner
in a manner of speaking
in a mass
In a Mellow Mood
in a minute
In a Mirror Darkly
In a Mirror Darkly (Enterprise episode)
In a Mirror, Darkly
In a Mirror, Darkly (ENT episode)
In a Mirror, Darkly (Enterprise episode)

In a Mirror, Darkly (Part II)
In a Mirror, Darkly Part II (ENT episode)
In a Mirror, Darkly Part II(ENT episode)
In a Model Room
In a Monastery Garden
in a month of Sundays
in a New York minute
in a New York minute
In A New York Second
in a nut shell
in a nutshell
in a nutshell
In a particular embodiment
In a People House
In a Perfect World
In a Perfect World

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