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after a fashion

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after a fashion

1. In a sufficient but rudimentary or unimpressive manner. I can ride a motorcycle, after a fashion. I wouldn't ride one on a busy highway, though. I can write, after a fashion, but my sister is a genius—she far outshines me with the written word.

2. In an inadequate or incomplete way. Tom fixed the car, after a fashion, so it's running again but still makes that terrible noise.

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after a fashion

in a manner that is just barely adequate; poorly. He thanked me—after a fashion—for my help. Oh, yes, I can swim, after a fashion.

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after a fashion

1. to some degree but not very well I can paint after a fashion, but I'm certainly not as good as you.

2. almost but not completely What he said is true after a fashion, though a few of his facts were wrong.

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after a fashion

 

1. if you do something after a fashion, you manage to do it although not very well I can paint after a fashion, but I'm certainly not as good as you.

2. almost, but not completely 'A vegetarian diet is much healthier.' 'That's true after a fashion, although I don't believe all meat is bad for you.'

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after a fashion

Also, after a sort. Somehow or other; not very well, as in John can read music, after a fashion, or He managed to paint the house after a sort. The first phrase, in which fashion means "a manner of doing something," has been so used since the mid-1800s, when it replaced in a fashion. The variant dates from the mid-1500s. Also see in a way; (somehow) or other.

See also: after, fashion