English Explanatory Dictionary

by hook or by crook

English dictionary entry

Meanings

prep_phrase
  1. By any means possible; one way or another.

Pronunciation

/baɪ ˈhʊk‿ə baɪ ˈkɹʊk/ /baɪ ˈhʊk‿əɹ baɪ ˈkɹʊk/ En-au-by hook or by crook.ogg

Word forms

by hook or by crook by hook and by crook

Etymology

From earlier by howke or crooke, by hoke ne by croke, etc., from Middle English wiþ hok or crok, wiþ hook or wiþ crok; further origin unknown. One suggestion is that the term is derived from the common of estovers, an ancient right in English law for tenants of land to gather dead wood on common land using blunt tools such as hooks and shepherd’s crooks.

Synonyms

at all costs by any means by fair means or foul no matter what whatever it takes with hook or crook

Related words

stop at nothing
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