manage to outwit

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "manage to outwit" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing a situation where someone successfully deceives or tricks another person, often in a clever or skillful manner. Example: "Despite the odds against him, he managed to outwit his opponents and win the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Will they manage to outwit the angels?

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

Tonight things get even more intense as the net closes in around Paul Spector Jamie Dornann) but somehow the psychopathic serial killer is still managing to outwit his hunters.

Independent

Sheep, whose only dialogue is an occasional plaintive "Baa," hightails it to the city, where he knows no one but still manages to outwit his pursuers.

The New York Times - Arts

In the case of Anglerphish, Johnson managed to outwit the secret service and steal some $130,000 in illegal tax refunds while working as their informant.

The Guardian - Tech

If Toby Flood had kicked those two goals, or if they had put the ball in the corner at the end they could have grabbed a win – if they had managed to outwit South Africa's excellent line-out defences.

Independent

He has accused the tribunal registrar of financial crimes, fired off motions that amount to insulting diatribes, and managed to outwit his prison guards -- and his trial has not even begun.

The New York Times

Yesterday Mr. Brennan, 56, who nevertheless had managed to outwit federal and state securities investigators for decades, was arrested and charged with criminal fraud and, for the first time, could face a prison term.

The New York Times

Now Moscow can afford to put pressure on Mr Lukashenka until he cedes control of state firms, including its refineries, and fully complies with the customs union between Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus, which Moscow sees as an alternative to the EU.In the past Mr Lukashenka often managed to outwit both Moscow and Brussels.

The Economist

Scroll to watch trailer Series two finished on a cliffhanger after Sherlock 'died' after plunging from a rooftop in "The Reichenbach Fall", but as Arthur Conan Doyle's star is back alive and kicking, how he managed to outwit arch-nemesis Moriarty remains to be seen.

Independent

That man in the window had managed to outwit and elude the authorities since early 2003, until the international hunt finally led to the two-star Hotel Utrillo, a short walk from the Moulin Rouge in Paris, where this week the French police arrested Mr. Kostic, 39, and Nikola Ivanovic, 36, with their Swiss watches.

The New York Times

That man in the window had managed to outwit and elude authorities since early 2003, until the international hunt finally led to the two-star Hotel Utrillo, a short walk from the Moulin Rouge in Paris, where this week French police arrested Mr. Kostic, 39, and Nikola Ivanovic, 36, with their Swiss watches.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "manage to outwit", ensure the context clearly indicates both the effort required and the cleverness employed to overcome a challenge or deceive someone. It implies a degree of difficulty or improbability in succeeding.

Common error

Avoid using "manage to outwit" in situations where the success was easily achieved or required minimal effort. The phrase suggests a significant challenge was overcome through cunning.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "manage to outwit" functions as a verbal phrase expressing the successful application of cleverness or cunning to overcome or deceive someone. As Ludwig AI suggests, this phrase implies the successful completion of an action requiring smartness.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

30%

Encyclopedias

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Reference

5%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "manage to outwit" is a grammatically correct verbal phrase used to describe the successful deception or outsmarting of someone, implying the need for cleverness and effort. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While not exceedingly common, it is found in various reputable sources, particularly in News & Media. Alternatives include "succeed in deceiving" and "manage to trick". When using the phrase, it's best to ensure that the context genuinely reflects a situation where ingenuity was necessary to overcome a challenge or deceive someone, avoiding overstatement of the difficulty involved.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

succeed in outsmarting

Focuses on intelligence and strategy leading to success.

manage to trick

Replaces "outwit" with "trick", highlighting the act of deceiving, but with slightly less finesse.

succeed in deceiving

Emphasizes the successful deception aspect, omitting the 'managing' or effort.

find a way to outfox

Emphasizes cunning and cleverness in deceiving someone.

contrive to outmaneuver

Highlights skillful maneuvering and planning to gain an advantage.

be able to outsmart

Indicates the capability to outsmart someone.

cleverly circumvent

Highlights the cleverness used to bypass an obstacle or person.

be in a position to outwit

Highlights the state of being able to use one's wit to gain advantage.

skillfully evade

Focuses on avoiding someone or something through skill.

deftly maneuver around

Emphasizes skillful movement to avoid or overcome a challenge.

FAQs

What does "manage to outwit" mean?

It means to succeed in deceiving or tricking someone, often through cleverness and skill, implying that it was difficult to do so.

How can I use "manage to outwit" in a sentence?

Example: "Despite the security measures, the thief "managed to outwit" the guards and steal the valuable painting."

What are some alternatives to "manage to outwit"?

You can use alternatives like "succeed in deceiving", "manage to trick", or "succeed in outsmarting" depending on the context.

Is "manage to outwit" formal or informal?

The phrase "manage to outwit" is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. Its appropriateness depends more on the surrounding vocabulary and the overall tone of the writing.