English

Prepositional phrase

in a manner of speaking

1. As it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect.
   • 1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, ch. 20:

     "Well, well, cap'n," returned the sea-cook, ". . . Why, there you all are together like a happy family, in a manner of speaking."

   • 1900, Joseph Conrad, Lord Jim, ch. 9:

     No doubt it maddened him; it knocked him over afresh—in a manner of speaking.

   • 1913, Jeffery Farnol, The Amateur Gentleman, ch. 28:

     [H]e is—in a manner of speaking—in eclipse as it were, sir!"

   • 1939, George Orwell, Coming Up for Air:

     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.

   • 1961, Harold Pinter, The Collection:

     James. Brought up in the country, I suppose?
     Bill. In a manner of speaking, yes.

   • 1979, Tom Stoppard, Undiscovered Country:

     Rosenstock. If the gentlemen would perhaps like to try the Alpenrose...
     First Hiker. Is that a hotel too?
     Rosenstock. In a manner of speaking.

Usage notes

• Often used as an accompaniment to a metaphor or a play on words.

Synonyms

• so to speak

Translations

References

• Roget's International Thesaurus, fourth edition. T. Y. Crowell Co., 1977.
• Webster's Encyclopedic Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language. Random House, 1996.