managed to lie

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "managed to lie" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone successfully deceived or misled others, often implying some effort or skill involved in the act of lying. Example: "Despite the pressure, he managed to lie convincingly to his friends about his whereabouts."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

In a mere ten seconds, Rajaratnam had managed to lie.

The New Yorker

How has Trump managed to lie repeatedly about other candidates without serious consequences?

Huffington Post

So, in the space of thirteen words, President Bush managed to lie (at least) twice.

Huffington Post

There were no protests and there was no extra security in Islamabad on Tuesday, just a sense of embarrassment or indifference that bin Laden had managed to lie low for so long in Abbottabad.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

A man had his mobile phone stolen but managed to lay a hand on the thief just long enough for the crowd to close in.

The Economist

The thinness of their presence means that, under the cover of darkness, Taliban have managed to lay booby trap roadside bombs in previously cleared areas.

The Guardian - Opinion

"So I managed to lay down the foundations of who the character was before I then took a departure and became incarnations of who she is.

The New York Times

There, on February 16th, as he drove to the airport, apparently under the impression that he would be travelling to the Netherlands, the Turkish government somehow managed to lay its hands on him.

The Economist

Nevertheless, the family — Pops, Cleotha, Yvonne, and Mavis — managed to lay down ten tracks in the course of a year, accompanied on some of them by the studio musicians Tony Grady, on bass, and Tim Austin, on drums.

The New Yorker

Jeffrey T. Atwood, Larchmont, N.Y.: Your column today was amazing, mostly because you managed to lay some responsibility on Alan Greenspan, whose independence gave him the greatest ability and leverage to hold America accountable for its spendthrift behavior.

The New York Times

No matter how impoverished, he always somehow managed to lay in more and costlier art supplies than any of his peers and to miss no opportunity for flaunting it.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "managed to lie", consider the context and whether a more specific verb (e.g., deceive, mislead, fabricate) would provide greater clarity.

Common error

While grammatically sound, using "managed to lie" in highly formal writing may sound less sophisticated. Opt for more precise and nuanced vocabulary like "deceived" or "misled" to enhance the writing's impact.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "managed to lie" functions as a verb phrase indicating the successful completion of an action, in this case, the act of lying. The inclusion of "managed" emphasizes the effort or skill required to accomplish the act. This is consistent with Ludwig AI's assessment of the phrase as correct and usable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "managed to lie" is grammatically correct and, according to Ludwig AI, usable in written English. It signifies that someone successfully told a lie, often implying skill or effort in the act. While the phrase is most commonly found in news and media contexts, it is relatively rare overall. When considering alternative phrases, options like "succeeded in lying" or "was able to mislead" offer similar meanings. When using "managed to lie", ensure that the context aligns with the intended meaning and consider whether a more precise verb might enhance clarity. It's also wise to avoid overuse in highly formal contexts, opting for more sophisticated vocabulary where appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

succeeded in lying

Emphasizes the successful outcome of the act of lying.

managed to deceive

Focuses on successfully misleading someone, akin to the original phrase.

succeeded in deceiving

Highlights the successful outcome of the deception.

was able to mislead

Indicates the capability to guide someone towards a false belief.

contrived to deceive

Highlights the planning and effort involved in the deception.

got away with lying

Emphasizes the lack of consequences for the act of lying.

skillfully misrepresented

Emphasizes the talent and finesse in presenting something falsely.

successfully fabricated

Focuses on the creation of a false story or statement.

adeptly told a falsehood

Highlights the skillful telling of something untrue.

effectively prevaricated

Highlights the evasiveness and indirectness in avoiding the truth.

FAQs

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

You can use "managed to lie" to describe a situation where someone successfully told a lie, often implying some effort or skill. For instance, "Despite the intense questioning, he "managed to lie" convincingly."

What are some alternatives to "managed to lie"?

Alternatives include "succeeded in lying", "contrived to deceive", or "was able to mislead", each offering a slightly different nuance depending on the context.

Is it better to say "managed to lie" or "succeeded in lying"?

Both "managed to lie" and "succeeded in lying" are grammatically correct. The choice depends on the emphasis you want to convey. "Managed to lie" suggests overcoming a challenge, while "succeeded in lying" simply emphasizes the successful outcome.

What does "managed to lie" imply about the situation?

"Managed to lie" often implies that the person faced some difficulty or pressure but was still able to successfully deceive or mislead. It suggests a degree of effort or skill in the act of lying.