by hook or by crook

短语

vt. 弯成钩形; 想方设法; 不择手段; 千方百计

发音

UK /baɪ ˈhʊk‿ə baɪ ˈkɹʊk/
AU
US /baɪ ˈhʊk‿əɹ baɪ ˈkɹʊk/

别名

by hook and by crook by hook or crook

释义与例句

phr.
  1. 1.

    By any means possible; one way or another.

    不择手段

    千方百计

    习语

    She was determined to win the contract by hook or by crook.

词源

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.

来源：wiktionary