By hook or by crook: Difference between revisions
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"'''By hook or by crook'''" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary", suggesting that one need not be concerned with morality or other considerations when accomplishing some goal. The phrase is very old, first recorded in the [[Middle English]] text ''[[Controversial Tracts]]'' by [[John Wyclif]] in 1380.<ref name="alt.usage.english">{{cite web| url=http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifbyhookorbycrook.shtml| first= Mark| last= Israel| title=Phrase Origins: "by hook or by crook"', The alt.usage.english FAQ file, (line 4953)| date=29 Sept 1997}}</ref> |
"'''By hook or by crook'''" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary", suggesting that one need not be concerned with morality or other considerations when accomplishing some goal. The phrase is very old, first recorded in the [[Middle English]] text ''[[Controversial Tracts]]'' by [[John Wyclif]] in 1380.<ref name="alt.usage.english">{{cite web| url=http://www.yaelf.com/aueFAQ/mifbyhookorbycrook.shtml| first= Mark| last= Israel| title=Phrase Origins: "by hook or by crook"', The alt.usage.english FAQ file, (line 4953)| date=29 Sept 1997}}</ref> |
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The origin of the phrase is obscure, with multiple different explanations and no evidence to support any particular one over the others.<ref name="phrases.org">[http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/82400.html By hook or by crook<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> For example, a commonly repeated suggestion is that it comes from [[Hook Head]] in [[Wexford]], [[Ireland]] and the nearby village of Crook, in [[Waterford]], [[Ireland]]. Another is that it comes from the customs regulating which [[Estovers|firewood local people could take]] from [[common land]]; they were allowed to take any branches that they could reach with a [[billhook]] or a [[shepherd]]'s crook.<ref>http://info.sjc.ox.ac.uk/forests/glossary.htm</ref> |
The origin of the phrase is obscure, with multiple different explanations and no evidence to support any particular one over the others.<ref name="phrases.org">[http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/82400.html By hook or by crook<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> For example, a commonly repeated suggestion is that it comes from [[Hook Head]] in [[Wexford]], [[Ireland]] and the nearby village of Crook, in [[Waterford]], [[Ireland]]. Another is that it comes from the customs regulating which [[Estovers|firewood local people could take]] from [[common land]]; they were allowed to take any branches that they could reach with a [[billhook]] or a [[shepherd]]'s crook.<ref>http://info.sjc.ox.ac.uk/forests/glossary.htm</ref> More likely it simply means, "by any means necessary" or "using whatever means are available". The word ''crook'' has a connotation of crookedness, perversity and wickedness, while ''hook'' might suggest subtlety, deceit, cunning or trickery. |
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The phrase was famously featured in the opening credits to the 1960s British television series [[The Prisoner]].<ref>http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Prisoner</ref> |
The phrase was famously featured in the opening credits to the 1960s British television series [[The Prisoner]].<ref>http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Prisoner</ref> |
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Revision as of 19:24, 20 June 2013
"By hook or by crook" is an English phrase meaning "by any means necessary", suggesting that one need not be concerned with morality or other considerations when accomplishing some goal. The phrase is very old, first recorded in the Middle English text Controversial Tracts by John Wyclif in 1380.[1]
The origin of the phrase is obscure, with multiple different explanations and no evidence to support any particular one over the others.[2] For example, a commonly repeated suggestion is that it comes from Hook Head in Wexford, Ireland and the nearby village of Crook, in Waterford, Ireland. Another is that it comes from the customs regulating which firewood local people could take from common land; they were allowed to take any branches that they could reach with a billhook or a shepherd's crook.[3] More likely it simply means, "by any means necessary" or "using whatever means are available". The word crook has a connotation of crookedness, perversity and wickedness, while hook might suggest subtlety, deceit, cunning or trickery.
The phrase was famously featured in the opening credits to the 1960s British television series The Prisoner.[4]
References
- ^ Israel, Mark (29 Sept 1997). "Phrase Origins: "by hook or by crook"', The alt.usage.english FAQ file, (line 4953)".
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ By hook or by crook
- ^ http://info.sjc.ox.ac.uk/forests/glossary.htm
- ^ http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Prisoner