in a manner of speaking

idiom

—used to say that a statement is true or accurate in a certain way even if it is not literally or completely true

His retirement was, in a manner of speaking, the beginning of his real career.

After the storm destroyed their house, they were, in a manner of speaking, lost at sea.

Examples of in a manner of speaking in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Many of her paintings have been self-portraits, in a manner of speaking—her own rounded cheeks, full lips, and big eyes have been discernible in her work for decades. —Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 June 2025

The sophomore shortstop, in a manner of speaking, is in a league of her own. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 24 Apr. 2025

His theme is classic and uncomplicated; there’s no need to think twice about it, in a manner of speaking. —Sam Corbin, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024

Held her bones in my bare hands—in a manner of speaking. —Ayad Akhtar, The Atlantic, 4 Dec. 2024

Teammates Lance Berkman, Matt Holliday, Albert Pujols, Wainwright were, in a manner of speaking, Schumaker’s soul mates. —John Hughes, Sun Sentinel, 10 Apr. 2024

Heidi Klum as the human body in 2011 Klum bared it all — in a manner of speaking — with this blood-red skeletal costume for Halloween 2011. —Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 30 Oct. 2024

The murder victim from season three is somehow a murder suspect in season four, at least in a manner of speaking. —Josh Wigler, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Sep. 2024

And, in a manner of speaking, they are further protected by U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón. —science.org, 19 Sep. 2024

Rhymes for in a manner of speaking

• creaking
• eking
• freaking
• leaking
• peaking
• peeking
• reeking
• seeking
• shrieking
• sneaking
• squeaking
• streaking