APAD: By hook or by crook

7
7grizzly
楼主 (文学峸)

Meaning:

 

If someone says they will do something by hook or by crook, they are determined

to do it, even if they have to make a great effort or use dishonest means.

 

Background:

 

A widely held theory is that it comes from the custom of allowing commoners to

take as much wood from royal forests as they could reach with a shepherd's crook

and cut down with a billhook.

 

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

While billhook has stayed a weapon and pruning tool, Shepherd's crook seems to

have found applications other than looking after sheep.

 

 

盈盈一笑间
By hook or by crook, sounds familiar...
最西边的岛上
is it your own graden? beautiful! I love those beans as
最西边的岛上
they provide good harvest by hook or by crook ;)
暖冬cool夏
by fair and foul. Tks for introducing the origin of it!
盈盈一笑间
造个句:we need to complete the task by hook or by crook.
盈盈一笑间
Just wonder if the term is pejorative or positive.
盈盈一笑间
A bit confused. Is the sentence I just made correct?
7
7grizzly
Of course. I believe.
7
7grizzly
Either, depending on context.
7
7grizzly
A man's got to do what a man's got to do?
7
7grizzly
I wish :-) It was an ad from some home improvement shop
7
7grizzly
Thank you for reading. Did you mean "by fair or foul"?
盈盈一笑间
I see. thank U
暖冬cool夏
Right, by fair or foul:) Thanks,my friend!
7
7grizzly
Thank YOU! It's new to me.
唐宋韵
A crook is a bad person. If doing something nobly,
唐宋韵
can we still say do it by hook or by crook?
唐宋韵
好像有点儿不择手段了。
7
7grizzly
I think so. The 'crook' here refers to "shepherd's crook."
7
7grizzly
Some believe the end justifies the means.
唐宋韵
Thanks.
g
godog
I'll shovel the snow on the sidewalk by hook or by crook
7
7grizzly
For snow, I'd rather go by blower or by plower :-)
移花接木
恩维并施,拉着骗着,也得要做
7
7grizzly
直教人生死相许 :-)
妖妖灵
by all means
7
7grizzly
absolutely!
盈盈一笑间
这句接得太有喜感了。不厚道地看笑了。哈哈。

7
7grizzly
就是要这个效果。越不厚道越好。:-)))
C
CBA7
短小精悍,有图有真相,幽默风趣的APAD,赞!
7
7grizzly
Thank you!