by hook or crook

A form of by hook or by crook — By any means possible; one way or another.

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Meanings

prepositional phrase
  1. alternativeAlternative form of by hook or by crook.

    "A formidable incentive for a weak and desperate man to secure a fortune by hook or crook, Max," said Carlyle drily.

    1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC
Cite this entry
APA

by hook or crook. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20hook%20or%20crook

MLA

“by hook or crook.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20hook%20or%20crook. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “by hook or crook,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/by%20hook%20or%20crook.

Source: by hook or crook on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.