Definitions
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- phrase idiomatic By any
means possible; oneway or another.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- adverb in any way necessary
Etymologies
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
Origin obscure; see By hook or by crook.
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Examples
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yarb commented on the word by hook or by crook
Whither are you going, my little darling? said he in a philandering tone of voice, unlike the natural hoarseness of his accents. Good worthy gentleman, answered she, I am going to Toledo, where I hope to gain an honest livelihood by hook or by crook.
- Lesage, The Adventures of Gil Blas of Santillane, tr. Smollett, bk 10 ch. 10
October 10, 2008
alexz commented on the word by hook or by crook
this phrase was commonly heard on the 60's/70's tv show 'The Prisoner'.
June 8, 2015
bilby commented on the word by hook or by crook
It was somewhat mode, when I was a young'un, for someone to go to the last page of your autograph book / yearbook and write 'by hook or by crook I'll be last in your book' and sign there.
June 9, 2015