The phrase "use it as leverage" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it in situations where you are trying to negotiate or bargain in order to obtain a better result. For example, "We have the upper hand in this negotiation, so let's use it as leverage to get the most favorable terms."
Although China's purchase of US treasury securities helped to fund US budget deficit, there are concerns that China may use it as leverage over US policies.
But Republicans angered by Russian arms sales to Iran have in recent years tried to cut the financing for the Nunn-Lugar program -- or to use it as leverage against the Russian government.
Republicans and Democrats in both houses expressed frustration with Mr. Pataki's handling of the bill, saying that he was trying to use it as leverage to win concessions on issues not directly related to it.
I view Mr. Annan's stonewalling on the release of oil-for-food documents to Congress as a potential cover-up for corruption and will use it as leverage to deny passage of state legislation.
He hoped to use it as leverage to squeeze more concessions out of Mr Obama; instead, humiliatingly, he had to withdraw it for lack of support in his own ranks.
To protect themselves, some of Mr. Mugabe's lieutenants are trying to implicate opposition officials in a supposed plot to overthrow the president, hoping to use it as leverage in any amnesty talks or to press the opposition into quitting the government altogether, ruling party officials said.
Interrogators taped this detainee crying and used it as leverage against one of his relatives.
The North will stick to that stance, analysts say, in hopes of using it as leverage in negotiating with the administration of the president-elect, Barack Obama.
Mr Ashley previously bought a stake in Debenhams, using it as leverage to negotiate for Sports Direct concessions in eight of the chain's department stores.
In depositions, former company executives said Mr. Clancy had been so certain that Community Education would receive the contract that he used it as leverage in negotiations with investors.
If that proved he was a commercial draw, he's used it as leverage to work with some of the most renowned talents in Hollywood, everyone from Terry Gilliam (The Brothers Grimm) to Martin Scorsese (The Departed) and Robert De Niro (The Good Shepherd).
