manoeuvre

ma|noeu|vre¹ BrE maneuver AmE [məˈnu:və US -ər] n

1.)

a skilful or careful movement that you make, for example in order to avoid something or go through a narrow space

▪ A careful driver will often stop talking before carrying out a complex manoeuvre.

2.) [U and C]

a skilful or carefully planned action intended to gain an advantage for yourself

▪ They tried by diplomatic maneuvers to obtain an agreement.

3.) manoeuvres [plural]

military activities, such as pretending to fight a battle, which are done as practice or training

= ↑exercises

▪ Large-scale military manoeuvres are being carried out near the border.

on manoeuvres

▪ troops on night manoeuvres

4.) room for manoeuvre/freedom of manoeuvre

the possibility of changing your plans or decisions in order to achieve what you want

▪ As I see it, Lisa, you don't really have a great deal of room for manoeuvre.

manoeuvre ²

manoeuvre² v BrE maneuver AmE

1.) [I,T always + adverb/preposition]

to move or turn skilfully or to move or turn something skilfully, especially something large and heavy

▪ She managed to manoeuvre expertly into the parking space.

manoeuvre yourself into/out of sth

▪ Josh manoeuvred himself out of bed and hobbled to the door.

▪ We manoeuvred the TV in front of the sofa.

2.) [I and T]

to use cleverly planned and often dishonest methods to get the result that you want

manoeuvre sb into/out of sth

▪ It was a well-organized plan to maneuver company president John Woolford out of office.

▪ Businesses manoeuvred to have their industry organized to their own advantage.