Meanings
- As it were; figuratively speaking; in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect.
[H]e is—in a manner of speaking—in eclipse as it were, sir!"
1913, Jeffery Farnol, chapter 28, in The Amateur Gentleman5 more examples
"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, →OCLCNo 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 109Because 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 AirJames. Brought up in the country, I suppose? Bill. In a manner of speaking, yes.
1961, Harold Pinter, The CollectionRosenstock. 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 CountrySynonyms: so to speak
Synonyms & antonyms
prepositional phraseAs it were; figuratively speaking; in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect.
Origin
- Middle Englisha maner of speche“a manner of literary style”
- Englishin a manner of speaking
From in + an alteration of Middle English a maner of speche (“a manner of literary style”).
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch bij wijze van spreken
- bij wijze van sprekenas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
Finnish tavallaan
- tavallaanas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
French pour ainsi dire, d'une certaine manière
- pour ainsi direas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
- d'une certaine manièreas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
German sozusagen, in gewisser Weise
- sozusagenas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
- in gewisser Weiseas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
Hungarian bizonyos értelemben
- bizonyos értelembenas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
Italian in un certo senso
- in un certo sensoas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
Polish niejako, poniekąd
- niejakoas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
- poniekądas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
Scottish Gaelic mar gum biodh
- mar gum biodhas it were, figuratively speaking, in a manner, in a way, in a certain respect
Cite this entry
in a manner of speaking. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20a%20manner%20of%20speaking
“in a manner of speaking.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20a%20manner%20of%20speaking. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “in a manner of speaking,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/in%20a%20manner%20of%20speaking.
Source: in a manner of speaking on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.