a skillful maneuver

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a skillful maneuver" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe an action that is executed with expertise or precision, often in a challenging situation. Example: "The driver executed a skillful maneuver to avoid the oncoming traffic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Please try this, 'I have the skill... do you have the skills... this requires certain skills... he is very skilled... that was a skillful maneuver... See?

Huffington Post

But Hesseltine argued that "with many a skillful maneuver," Lincoln "proved that he alone could direct the war" – by helping Morton shore up his own base in Indiana, he also tied the state even closer to the federal government.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Devised to exploit enemy weaknesses and to capitalize on American strengths in weapons technology, communications, surveillance, and skillful maneuver by armor, infantry and Special Operations forces, the strategy emphasized flexibility above all else.

The New York Times

It's a bit of skillful maneuvering, with all parts likely to be in permanent place by mid-November.

Los Angeles Times

If you're an adult with a vagina, chances are you've had a stranger examine parts of yourself that, even with the most skillful maneuvering of a hand mirror, you'll probably never see.

Vice

An Oregon-based education group, whose deep pockets and skillful maneuvering made it a surprising powerhouse player in Springfield earlier this year, is regrouping after an embarrassing outburst by its founder forced a leadership shuffle within the organization.

The New York Times

Cao's large armies at one time he is said to have had a million men under arms and his skillful maneuvering have long been notorious in Chinese history.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On his way up, Mackay used skillful maneuvering, underground knowledge and a huge quantity of hard work to become one of the richest and most admired men in the world.

The Washington Post

Because scientists have thought foreflippers were mainly involved in steering, it makes sense that the unusual flipper shape could explain the humpback's famously skillful maneuvering.

Stanford University

Meanwhile, the Government is hampered in trying to put its program into effect by President Mitterrand's skillful maneuvering and by its slim parliamentary majority of two seats.

The New York Times

By rapid and skillful maneuvering, Edward isolated Simon behind the Severn, destroyed at Kenilworth (August 1) the large army coming to his rescue, and trapped Simon's little force at Evesham (Aug. 4, 1265), slaying Simon and most of his followers.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a skillful maneuver" to describe situations where precision, expertise, and strategic thinking are evident in an action or decision. For example, in sports, politics, or business negotiations.

Common error

Avoid using "a skillful maneuver" to describe trivial or everyday actions. This phrase carries a sense of importance and strategic intent, and using it in commonplace scenarios can sound exaggerated or out of place.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a skillful maneuver" functions as a noun phrase, where "skillful" is an adjective modifying the noun "maneuver". The article "a" indicates that it refers to one particular instance of such a maneuver. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Encyclopedias

20%

Wiki

15%

Less common in

Academia

5%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a skillful maneuver" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe actions executed with expertise and strategic thinking. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. It's most commonly found in News & Media, Encyclopedias, and Wiki contexts, with a neutral formality level. When using this phrase, ensure it fits the context and avoid overuse in simple situations. Alternatives like "an adroit tactic" or "a deft move" can be used depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

an adroit tactic

Replaces 'skillful' with 'adroit' and 'maneuver' with 'tactic', focusing on cleverness and effectiveness.

a deft move

Uses 'deft' to emphasize skill and 'move' as a simpler alternative to 'maneuver'.

an expert action

Emphasizes expertise through 'expert' and uses the general term 'action'.

a clever ploy

Replaces 'skillful' with 'clever' and 'maneuver' with 'ploy', highlighting ingenuity.

an ingenious strategy

Focuses on the inventiveness using 'ingenious' and 'strategy' for a planned action.

a tactical masterstroke

Highlights the strategic brilliance, suggesting a decisive action.

an artful dodge

Emphasizes the elegance and skill of avoidance or evasion.

a strategic intervention

Highlights a carefully planned action to influence a situation.

a brilliant stroke

Uses 'brilliant' to describe a remarkable and successful action.

a cunning gambit

Emphasizes the cleverness and risk-taking involved in the action.

FAQs

How can "a skillful maneuver" be used in a sentence?

You can use "a skillful maneuver" to describe an action executed with precision and expertise, often in challenging circumstances. For example: "The pilot executed "a skillful maneuver" to land the plane safely during the storm."

What are some alternatives to "a skillful maneuver"?

Alternatives include "an adroit tactic", "a deft move", or "an expert action", depending on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "a skillful maneuver" in writing?

Use "a skillful maneuver" when you want to highlight the expertise and strategic thinking behind an action, particularly in situations involving complexity or risk. It's suitable for describing actions in fields like sports, politics, business, or aviation.

Is "a skillful maneuver" formal or informal language?

The phrase "a skillful maneuver" is generally considered neutral to formal in tone. It's appropriate for professional writing, news articles, and academic papers, but it might sound slightly elevated in casual conversation.