Any Which Way
In Southern and Appalachian speech, any which way means no matter how or "in whatever manner." It’s often used instead of "anyway" or "anyhow" in casual talk.
synonyms: anyway, anyhow, regardless, however
Hillbilly Dude Says...
I often use 'any which way' in place of 'anyway' myself. It's a common one down here. Hillbilly Dude Says...
I often use 'any which way' in place of 'anyway' myself. It's a common one down here. Pronunciation
[EN-ee witch way]
/ˈɛn.i wɪtʃ weɪ/
/ˈɛn.i wɪtʃ weɪ/
Meaning & Usage
- No matter how something happens or is done (adverbial phrase)
Troy:
You can stack them boards any which way - they’ll all fit.
You can stack them boards any which way - they’ll all fit.
Hank:
Yeah, long as the nails hold.
Yeah, long as the nails hold.variations: anyways, any which-a-way, any how, anyway
★ If you stretch it out to "any which-a-way," you’re either tellin’ a story or fixin’ to fuss. ★
Origin and Etymology
The phrase any which way dates back to older English expressions like "which way soever" meaning "in whatever direction." It survived most strongly in Southern, Midland, and Appalachian speech, where "which" adds emphasis and rhythm to the phrase.
Usage Notes
Used to mean "no matter how" or "regardless of the way." It can describe:
- physical direction - "It’s bent any which way you look at it."
- method or manner - "He’ll fix it any which way he can."
- resignation - "It’s gone bad any which way."