leveraged me

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "leveraged me" is not correct in standard written English.
It is typically used in a business context to indicate that someone has utilized or taken advantage of your skills or resources. Example: "The manager leveraged me to lead the project due to my expertise in the area."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

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

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

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

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

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

For example, I'm half Haitian - but I don't get clocked as a person of African descent, I don't live with the same kind of oppression leveraged against me as does someone who has darker skin.

Huffington Post

"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

There's a concerted effort working with financial organizations to increase access to credit for small businesses, Enigma's founders tell me, leveraging publicly available data to replicate some of the expensive, closed proprietary systems used by larger organizations.

TechCrunch

Ken Roth, the executive director, told me that Power cannily leveraged her office to that end.

The New Yorker

Ronald Perelman $7 billion Leveraged buyouts.

Forbes

China is barely leveraged.

Forbes

Equity was leveraged".

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to someone using your influence or resources, consider more precise alternatives like "exploited me" or "capitalized on my position". This enhances clarity and avoids potential misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid using "leveraged me" when you mean someone has used your influence or position for their advantage. Instead, opt for more direct alternatives like "took advantage of me" or "exploited me".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leveraged me" functions as a verb phrase where "leveraged" acts as a transitive verb, though its usage with "me" is grammatically questionable. Ludwig indicates that it's not correct in standard written English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

5%

Academia

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, while the phrase "leveraged me" appears in various contexts, it is considered grammatically incorrect by Ludwig. It is intended to convey that someone has utilized the speaker's position or resources for their own benefit, often with a negative connotation. It is advisable to use more standard alternatives like "took advantage of me", "exploited me", or "capitalized on my position" to enhance clarity and grammatical correctness, especially in professional or formal communication. When intending to communicate that another person has used your influence you should avoid using the phrase "leveraged me".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

capitalized on me

This alternative suggests that someone took advantage of the speaker's resources or position for their own gain.

exploited me

This implies unfair use of the speaker's position or resources.

took advantage of me

This indicates that someone unfairly benefited from the speaker's vulnerability or willingness.

used me

A more direct and general way of saying that someone benefited from the speaker.

profited from me

Focuses on the gains obtained by the other party, whether financial or otherwise.

utilized my resources

Specifies that resources were used, whether tangible assets or personal skills.

manipulated me

Highlights a more insidious form of influence to achieve a specific outcome.

controlled me

Highlights the power dynamic and the lack of autonomy of the person speaking.

harnessed my skills

Emphasizes the use of the speaker's abilities for another's purpose.

benefited from my position

Indicates that the other party has secured advantages due to the speaker's standing or role.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "leveraged me" to sound more grammatically correct?

While "leveraged me" isn't standard, you can use phrases like "took advantage of me", "used me", or "exploited me" to convey a similar meaning with better grammar.

What does it mean when someone says they "leveraged" me?

In typical usage, it suggests that someone used your position, influence, or resources to achieve their own goals, sometimes implying that this was done unfairly or opportunistically. It is better practice to use "capitalized on me" instead.

Is "leveraged me" formal or informal?

While the word "leveraged" itself isn't inherently informal, the phrase "leveraged me" sounds awkward in formal settings. Opt for more precise and grammatically standard alternatives like "utilized my influence" or "benefited from my position" in professional contexts.

What's the difference between "leveraged me" and "took advantage of me"?

"Leveraged me" is not grammatically sound, while "took advantage of me" is a common and grammatically correct expression. The latter suggests someone unfairly benefited from your vulnerability or willingness.