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Dictionary

Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

in a manner of speaking en · ADP

Etymology

From in + an alteration of Middle English a maner of speche (“a manner of literary style”).

Meanings

  1. As it were; figuratively speaking; in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect.
    • Because in a manner of speaking I am sentimental about my childhood—not my own particular childhood, but the civilization which I grew up in and which is now, I suppose, just about at its last kick. 1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air:
    • James. Brought up in the country, I suppose? Bill. In a manner of speaking, yes. 1961, Harold Pinter, The Collection:
    • No doubt it maddened him; it knocked him over afresh—in a manner of speaking— [...] 1899 September – 1900 July, Joseph Conrad, chapter IX, in Lord Jim: A Tale, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, published 1900, →OCLC, page 109:
    • "Well, well, cap'n," returned the sea-cook, ". . . Why, there you all are together like a happy family, in a manner of speaking." 1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, chapter 20, in Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:
    • [H]e is—in a manner of speaking—in eclipse as it were, sir!" 1913, Jeffery Farnol, chapter 28, in The Amateur Gentleman:
    • Rosenstock. If the gentlemen would perhaps like to try the Alpenrose... First Hiker. Is that a hotel too? Rosenstock. In a manner of speaking. 1979, Tom Stoppard, Undiscovered Country:

Relateds

after a fashion · figure of speech

Synonyms

so to speak

Translations (11)

hu bizonyos értelemben (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · de in gewisser Weise (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · it in un certo senso (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · gd mar gum biodh (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · pl poniekąd (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · fr d'une certaine manière (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · fi tavallaan (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · de sozusagen (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · nl bij wijze van spreken (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · fr pour ainsi dire (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect) · pl niejako (as it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect)