Online OXFORD Collocation Dictionary

manner noun

¹ way of doing sth/behaving

ADJ. conventional, customary, normal, standard, time-honoured, traditional, usual | correct You are not approaching the problem in the correct manner. | appropriate, satisfactory I did my best to behave in the appropriate manner. | prudent, reasonable, responsible, safe, sensible Chemical waste must be disposed of in an environmentally-responsible manner. | efficient, productive, profitable | logical, methodical, orderly, rational, systematic | consistent, uniform | objective | arbitrary, haphazard Files have been stored in such a haphazard manner that they are impossible to find. | professional | constructive, positive The dispute could have been handled in a more constructive manner. | non-violent, peaceful | straightforward | suspicious He was behaving in a highly suspicious manner. | light-hearted | casual, easy, informal, leisurely, relaxed | formal | calm | off-hand He answered in such an off-hand manner that I wondered if he'd misheard me. | confident, decisive | dignified | diffident, mild, quiet, shy | charming, cheerful, friendly, jovial, kindly, pleasant, sympathetic | abrasive, aggressive, arrogant, unfriendly, unpleasant | forthright | brusque, cold | businesslike, no-nonsense His no-nonsense manner gave him the reputation of being a good doctor. | authoritarian, autocratic, high-handed | condescending, dismissive | authoritative The authoritative manner in which he talked concealed his ignorance. | bedside, telephone He's a good doctor with a sympathetic bedside manner. She has a very pleasant telephone manner.

VERB + MANNER have | adopt He tends to adopt a condescending manner when talking to young women. | act in She accused the teacher of not acting in a professional manner.

MANNER + VERB change His manner changed abruptly when he heard how much I wanted. | conceal sth Her brusque m | suggest sth He was not as loutish as his manner suggested.

PREP. in a/the ~ The inspection was conducted in a thoroughly professional manner. | in the ~ of He lectured us in the manner of a headmaster. | in your ~ There was something in his manner that I found very irritating.

PHRASES in a timely manner All claims must be settled in a professional and timely manner. | in no uncertain manner He told her in no uncertain manner that her behaviour was unacceptable.

² manners: polite behaviour

ADJ. beautiful, charming, excellent, good, impeccable, nice, perfect It's not good manners to stare at people. | bad | table His children have no table manners.

VERB + MANNER have | teach sb Didn't your parents teach you any manners? | learn | forget I'm sorry, I was forgetting my manners. Can I offer you a drink?

PHRASES have the (good) manners to do sth He could at least have had the manners to answer my letter. | a lack of manners Her lack of manners is quite appalling.