Why should I use "any which way" (like in "any which way you can") instead of simply "any way"?
I've been studying English as a foreign language for some time, and never came across this particular construct before.
Tell me more
×
English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for
linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. It's 100% free, no registration required.
|
|
||||
|
|
|
"Any which way" adds a random or haphazard flavour that plain old "any way" doesn't have. "Any way" would work for "go this way or that way, it won't make any difference you'll get where you're going". "Any which way" would work for "go whichever way you want for all the good it will do". The same applies when "way" means manner as well as direction. |
||||
|
|
|
"Any which way" is much less common than "any way" See this ngram. It's only used for emphasis. |
|||
|
|
