by hook or by crook
n · adverb
Simple meaning
"By hook or by crook" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary".
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
byhuukawrbykruukSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈbaɪˈhʊˈkɔɹˈbaɪkˈɹʊk
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
n
"By hook or by crook" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary", suggesting that any means possible should be taken to accomplish a goal.
adverb
In any way necessary; by any possible means
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: "By hook or by crook" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary", suggesting that any means possible should be taken to accomplish a goal.
Used this way, by hook or by crook is a specialist word with a clearly warm, approving pull. It turns up most in technical or specialist writing contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Positive
- Formality
- Specialist/technical
- Intensity
- Moderate
- How common
- Specialized
- Connotation
- Successful and accomplished
- Usage feel
- Clinical and detached
Where it naturally appears
- Technical/specialist writing
Usage note
In general conversation this sense usually needs explaining — outside its field, people reach for a plainer word.
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
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