manner



company manners

Exceptional manners; those that are preferred or required in and among polite society. One must at all times exhibit company manners if one is to make a good impression among the more influential members of society.
See also: company, manner

mind (one's) manners

To be well behaved and act appropriately. Make sure you mind your manners while you are with your Aunt Josephine. I don't want to hear about you giving her any trouble while I'm away!
See also: manner, mind

manners maketh man

A good man has a strong sense of morality. This phrase is typically attributed to 14th-century bishop William of Wykeham. To hear that so many of our students intervened to stop this crime restores my faith in the youth of the world. Manners maketh man, you know.
See also: maketh, man, manner

all kinds of

1. Many varieties or types of. You meet all kinds of people when you live in a big city. It's a huge store with all kinds of dresses—I'm sure you'll find one you like.
2. slang Extremely; very. Oh, their family is all kinds of dysfunctional! That movie was all kinds of awesome! I can't wait to see it again.
See also: all, kind, of

all manner of

Many varieties or types of. You meet all manner of people when you live in a big city. It's a huge store with all manner of dresses—I'm sure you'll find one you like.
See also: all, manner, of

after the fashion of

In a manner or style imitative of someone or something else. When John F. Kennedy was president, many women dressed after the fashion of his wife, Jacqueline. I think that classical piece is after the fashion of the Baroque masters.
See also: after, fashion, of

after the fashion of someone or something

 and after the style of someone or something
in the manner or style of someone or something. She walks down the street after the fashion of a grand lady. The parish church was built after the style of a French cathedral.
See also: after, fashion, of

*all kinds of someone or something

Fig. a great number of people or things; a great amount of something, especially money. (*Typically: be ~; have ~.) There were all kinds of people there, probably thousands. The Smith family has all kinds of money.
See also: all, kind, of

all manner of someone or something

Fig. all types of people or things. We saw all manner of people there. They came from every country in the world. They were selling all manner of things in the country store.
See also: all, manner, of

by all means

certainly; yes; absolutely. I will attempt to get there by all means. Bob: Can you come to dinner tomorrow? Jane: By all means. I'd love to.
See also: all, mean

comport oneself with some manner

to behave in a certain manner. I hope you are able to comport yourself with better behavior next time. The old man was able to comport himself with dignity.
See also: manner

devil-may-care attitude

 and devil-may-care manner
a very casual attitude; a worry-free or carefree attitude. You must get rid of your devil-may-care attitude if you want to succeed. She acts so thoughtless—with her devil-may-care manner.
See also: attitude

equate

someone to someone else and equate something to something else to claim that someone is in some manner the same as someone else; to claim that something is in some manner the same as something else. I would equate Tom to Wallywhen it comes to native ability. You cannot equate my car to that jalopy you drive!

forget one's manners

to do something ill-mannered. Jimmy! Have we forgotten our manners?
See also: forget, manner

other times, other manners.

Prov. Different generations or eras have different customs. Amy thought her grandchildren addressed their friends in startlingly rude terms. "But then," she reflected, "other times, other manners." Jane: The young folks today are so shocking. Why, when I was their age, you wouldn't kiss your husband in public, let alone some of the things these children do! Alan: Other times, other manners.
See also: manner, other

in a manner of speaking

this is one way to say it so to speak “We should go south.” “So that means I should turn left?” “In a manner of speaking, yes.” She was, in a manner of speaking, not at her best – in fact, she was exhausted and had the flu.
Usage notes: sometimes used to suggest that something unpleasant is being described in a more pleasant way
Related vocabulary: if you will
See also: manner, of, speaking

by all means

certainly If you can find a use for this old computer, by all means keep it.
See also: all, mean

(as) to the manner born

  (slightly formal)
if you behave to the manner born, you behave confidently, as if a particular situation is usual and familiar for you Although he never lost his lower-class accent, he lived the life of a rich and successful businessman as to the manner born.
See also: born, manner

all kinds of

1. Also, all manner or sorts of . All or many varieties of something, as in Before the banquet, they served all kinds of drinks, or He sold exotic fruit of all sorts, or The museum featured all manner of artifacts. [Early 1300s]
2. A large amount of something, as in She has all kinds of money. This hyperbolic usage is colloquial.
See also: all, kind, of

by all means

1. Also, by all manner of means. In every possible way, as in I plan to make use of him by all means. [Late 1400s]
2. Also, by all manner of means. Without fail, at any cost, as in Losing the contract is to be avoided by all means. [c. 1600]
3. Certainly, yes, as in Are you coming tonight?-By all means, I'll be there. [Late 1600s] Also see by any means; by no means.
See also: all, mean

company manners

One's best behavior, as in George never interrupts when we have guests; he has fine company manners. This term employs company in the sense of "guests." An older variant, Tell me thy company and I'll tell thee thy manners, uses company in the sense of "companions." The current term implies that one is more mindful of politeness with invited guests.
See also: company, manner

in a manner of speaking

In a way; so to speak. For example, He was, in a manner of speaking, asked to leave the group. [Late 1800s]
See also: manner, of, speaking

to the manner born

Accustomed from birth to a particular behavior or lifestyle, as in At a high-society function she behaves as though to the manner born, but we know she came from very humble circumstances . This term was invented by Shakespeare in Hamlet. Referring to the King's carousing in Danish style, Hamlet says (1:4): "Though I am native here And to the manner born, it is a custom More honor'd in the breach than the observance." The manner in this expression was later sometimes changed to manor, "the main house of an estate," and the idiom's sense became equated with "high-born" (and therefore accustomed to luxury), a way in which it is often used today.
See also: born, manner

all kinds of

Informal
Plenty of; ample: We have all kinds of time to finish the job.
See also: all, kind, of

in a manner of speaking

In a way; so to speak.
See also: manner, of, speaking

to the manner born

Accustomed to a position, custom, or lifestyle from or as if from birth.
See also: born, manner

by all means

Without fail; certainly.
See also: all, mean

manner born

Familiar with such things. The phrase comes from Hamlet: “But to my mind, though I am native here. And to the manner born, it is a custom / More honour'd in the breach than the observance.” The widespread confusion between “manner and “manor” has been going on for at least two centuries. “To the manor born,” in the sense of accustomed to luxury as if raised in an aristocratic environment, was used as the title of a British sitcom that achieved some popularity on American public television.
See also: born, manner

Common Names:

NameGenderPronouncedUsage
LÍALEE-aGalician
BetsyBET-seeEnglish
Merav-Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew
Arti-Indian, Hindi, Marathi
Elton['eltən]
Bongani-Southern African, Zulu