managed to ask

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "managed to ask" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to indicate that someone successfully asked a question or made a request after some effort or difficulty. Example: "After several attempts to get his attention, she finally managed to ask her question."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

51 human-written examples

"Where?" he managed to ask.

The New Yorker

"When?" I managed to ask.

The New Yorker

You've managed to ask all sort of negative questions….

The New Yorker

Smith managed to ask these beings a question: Which of all the sects was right?

The New Yorker

"Er, with some of the things you possibly said?" Lineker managed to ask.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

But before he had managed to ask anything, his voice grew frail, his breathing labored.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

8 human-written examples

Finally, I did manage to ask when he wanted to pack up his clothes.

The New York Times

From the most raked-over history to the latest technology, scholars continually manage to ask new questions, rethink old verities and produce fresh insights.

The New York Times - Books

From the most raked-over historical fields to the latest technology, scholars and researchers continually manage to ask new questions, rethink old verities and produce fresh insights.

The New York Times - Arts

Every time I buy a car, the sales representatives manage to ask, or plea, or even beg that I give them good ratings on the follow-up form I will be getting.

The New York Times

The classes always require you to think on your feet: although I've taught it for many years, without fail students will manage to ask a question that I haven't thought about before.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "managed to ask" when you want to emphasize that asking a question required some effort, persistence, or overcoming of obstacles. For example, "Despite her nervousness, she managed to ask the CEO a direct question about the company's future."

Common error

Avoid using "managed to ask" when the act of asking was straightforward and required no particular effort. For example, instead of saying "He managed to ask for a glass of water at the restaurant", simply say "He asked for a glass of water."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "managed to ask" functions as a verbal phrase, indicating the successful completion of the action of asking, often implying effort or difficulty. Ludwig confirms its correctness and usability. It describes the ability to successfully pose a question.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Science

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "managed to ask" is a versatile and commonly used verbal phrase that indicates the successful asking of a question, often implying some level of effort or difficulty. As Ludwig confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely applicable across various contexts, primarily in news and media. Alternatives like "succeeded in asking" or "was able to ask" can be used to convey similar meanings, but "managed to ask" is particularly useful when highlighting the effort or overcoming of obstacles. Remember to reserve its use for situations that genuinely involve some difficulty in asking the question to avoid sounding awkward or unnatural.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

managed to question

This is a direct synonym, simply replacing "ask" with "question".

succeeded in asking

This alternative emphasizes the successful completion of the act of asking.

was able to ask

This phrase focuses on the ability to ask, highlighting the capacity rather than the effort.

achieved asking

This phrase highlights the accomplishment of successfully posing a question, despite potential obstacles.

found a way to ask

This alternative highlights the process of discovering a method to pose the question.

contrived to ask

This suggests a degree of ingenuity or manipulation in managing to ask the question.

made it possible to ask

Focuses on creating the conditions that enabled the question to be asked.

overcame obstacles to ask

Focuses on the challenges that were overcome in order to ask the question.

brought oneself to ask

This emphasizes the personal effort and mental preparation required to ask the question.

was successful in their inquiry

This is more formal and emphasizes the success of the inquiry.

FAQs

How can I use "managed to ask" in a sentence?

Use "managed to ask" to show that someone successfully asked a question after some difficulty or effort. For instance, "After waiting for the right moment, she "managed to ask" the speaker about the funding process."

What phrases are similar to "managed to ask"?

Alternatives to "managed to ask" include "succeeded in asking", "was able to ask", or "contrived to ask", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it better to say "managed to ask" or simply "asked"?

"Managed to ask" implies that there was some level of difficulty or effort involved in asking the question. If the act of asking was straightforward, simply using "asked" is more appropriate. However, if there was some obstacle to overcome, "managed to ask" is better.

When is it inappropriate to use the phrase "managed to ask"?

It's best to avoid using "managed to ask" in situations where asking the question was easy or expected. Overusing it can sound awkward or unnatural. Reserve it for situations where the act of asking required some effort or special circumstances.