leverage me

USAGE SUMMARY

"leverage me" is not a correct or usable phrase in written English.
Generally speaking, leverage is a verb used in relation to a situation or a tool that can be used to gain an advantage. You can use the phrase in a context like, "My knowledge and experience can be used to leverage a better outcome."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

By the time CBS broadcast the show on Nov. 12, along with a news account of the experiments that appeared in that morning's New York Times, West's professed desire for openness looked like something entirely different: a bid to leverage "me too" publicity for his otherwise unknown company.

The New York Times - Magazine

"Learning that cops have to give you a specific amount of money is always a positive thing, but the part of the lawsuit that I felt was the most important is the accountability of the crown lawyers who denied me bail and were basically trying to leverage me to plead out to something I'd never done," he said. .

Vice

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

"No one leveraged me or anything," he said.

The New York Times

Gates told them that he was unperturbed when collectors bought those works purely as an investment: "I realized that the people who were calling me up and asking me if they could have a deal right out of my studio — that they were, in fact, just thinking about the market, and that I would leverage the fuck out of them as they were leveraging me".

The New Yorker

I felt with them gone, the kidnappers would lose their leverage on me.

The Guardian - Film

"Well, that's what they used as leverage against me," says Schrader.

The Guardian - Film

"Russia has never tried to use leverage over me," he wrote.

The New Yorker

But even the minimalist approach leaves the government with considerable leverage (excuse me) over the banks.It is as risky to do as little as possible, as it is to do much more.

The Economist

"Russia has never tried to use leverage over me," Trump tweeted in January 2017, days before he was inaugurated as president.

Huffington Post

"I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH RUSSIA - NO DEALS, NO LOANS, NO NOTHING!" Russia has never tried to use leverage over me.

Huffington Post

But when it comes to abuse campaigns like the ones leveraged at me or my colleagues, or most recently at Ghostbusters actress Leslie Jones Yiannopoulosos' involvement in targeting Jones is thought to have directly led to his ban – we tend to miss the fact that more than mere "speech" is involved.

The Guardian - Tech

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When you intend to express that someone is using their position or resources to influence you, consider using more precise and standard phrasing like "exert influence on me" or "apply pressure to me".

Common error

Avoid using "leverage" directly with a person as the object. "Leverage" typically refers to using an asset or situation to gain an advantage, not directly using a person. Instead of saying "leverage me", clarify what is being leveraged (e.g., "leverage my skills").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leverage me" functions as a verb and direct object, where 'leverage' acts as a transitive verb. However, Ludwig AI indicates this is not a standard usage. Examples suggest an attempt to describe someone using influence or resources on the speaker.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "leverage me" appears in some contexts, Ludwig AI identifies it as grammatically non-standard. It attempts to convey the idea of someone using their influence or resources on the speaker. For clearer and more conventional communication, alternatives such as "exert influence on me" or "take advantage of me" are preferable. This phrase is most often found in news and media contexts, but its usage should be approached cautiously, especially in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

exert influence on me

Focuses on the act of applying influence, whether positive or negative.

bring pressure to bear on me

Highlights the application of significant influence or force.

apply pressure to me

Highlights the use of coercion or persuasion to achieve a desired outcome.

use me to their advantage

Directly states the act of utilizing someone for one's own benefit.

take advantage of me

Implies unfair or opportunistic use of someone or something.

exploit my weaknesses

Emphasizes taking advantage of vulnerabilities for personal gain.

manipulate me

Suggests skillful control or influence, often in a deceptive manner.

sway me

Suggests influencing someone's opinion or decision.

persuade me

Focuses on convincing someone through reasoning or argument.

coerce me

Focuses on compelling someone to do something against their will.

FAQs

What does it mean when someone says they want to "leverage" something?

To "leverage" something means to use it to maximum advantage. This could involve using resources, skills, or situations to achieve a desired outcome. For example, someone might "leverage their experience" to get a better job.

What are some more appropriate ways to say someone is trying to influence me?

Instead of "leverage me", you could say they are trying to "exert influence on me", "apply pressure to me", or "manipulate me", depending on the context and the nature of the influence.

How can I use "leverage" correctly in a sentence about people?

Use "leverage" to describe using someone's skills or position indirectly. For instance, "We can "leverage her expertise" to improve our project outcome" is correct, because you are leveraging their expertise, not the person directly.

Is "leveraging me" grammatically correct?

While occasionally used, "leveraging me" is not considered standard English. It's better to say someone is "taking advantage of me" or "using me to their advantage" to convey a similar meaning with better grammatical accuracy.