by hook or by crook love

by hook or by crook

Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • phrase idiomatic By any means possible; one way 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.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word by hook or by crook.

Examples

    Sorry, no example sentences found.

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.

  • 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

  • this phrase was commonly heard on the 60's/70's tv show 'The Prisoner'.

    June 8, 2015

  • 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