manipulation

Everyday

1. Controlling or influencing people in a clever and unfair way, so they do what you want. tree →
2. Skilful handling or moving of something with the hands or a tool. tree →
3. Changing information, numbers or pictures, sometimes to trick people. tree →
4. (medicine) Moving or pressing body parts to treat them. tree →

In the lessons

In personal safety and friendship lessons, manipulation is a warning sign: guilt trips, threats, flattery or keeping secrets to control someone. In media literacy, «photo manipulation» and «data manipulation» can mislead. In maths, «algebraic manipulation» means rearranging expressions and equations. Phrases: «emotional manipulation», «photo manipulation», «algebraic manipulation».

Examples

• Saying «If you were my friend you'd do it» can be a kind of manipulation. tree →
• Photo manipulation can make a fake picture look real. tree →
• Algebraic manipulation helped us solve for y. tree →
• Playing with clay improves children's manipulation of small objects. tree →
• The advert used clever manipulation of our feelings. tree →
• Data manipulation can make a graph tell a false story. tree →
• The physiotherapist used gentle manipulation on Dad's back. tree →
• Learning to spot manipulation keeps you safer online. tree →

Note

Countable and uncountable. Verb: manipulate; adjective: manipulative. Usually negative when about people, neutral when about hands, tools or maths. In maths problems, «manipulation» of an equation must keep both sides equal.