this is one way to say it.

“We should go south.” “So that means I should turn left?” “In a manner of speaking, yes.”

She was, in a manner of speaking, not at her best – in fact, she was exhausted and had the flu.

Usage notes: sometimes used to suggest that something unpleasant is being described in a more pleasant way

Related vocabulary: if you will, in other words

• in the bosom of
• in the bosom of someone
• in the bosom of something
• in the buff
• in the business of
• in the business of doing something
• in the can
• in the cards
• in the catbird seat
• in the clear
• in the closet
• in the cold light of day
• in the cross hairs
• in the dead of night
• in the dead of the night
• in the dead of winter
• in the doghouse
• in the doldrums
• in the driver's seat
• in the dumps
• in the end
• in the event of
• in the event of something
• in the eyes of
• in the eyes of someone