From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmanage a few words/a smile etcmanage a few words/a smile etcWILLINGto make yourself say or do something when you do not really want to Tom looked tired but still managed a smile.manage to smile/speak/laugh etc ‘Through here, ’ he managed to say, almost out of breath. → manage
Examples from the Corpus
manage to smile/speak/laugh etc• Despite that, I managed to speak 322 words in the time left to me by Labour Members and Ministers.• I managed to speak, and asked where Dmitri was.• Amid the general ventriloquism she does often manage to speak for herself.• Meanwhile, left, battling Wedgwood Barlaston manage to smile in gracious defeat.• I haven't managed to speak to my own government.• David managed to laugh, too, although his mind was no longer on the subject of politics at all. 