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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

one way or another

0I was wondering how different "in one way or the other" is from "in one way or another."02br
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00My take on this has always been that they are identical in meaning.02br
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00Am I right on this?02br
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00Any suggestions would be appreciated.0-
  

Top answer

0I agree - 02br 02br 00We'll make it one way or the other. We'll make it one way or another. "0-

— BarbaraPA

  • 0I agree - 02br 02br 00We'll make it one way or the other.
  • We'll make it one way or another.
  • "0-
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10 Answers
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0I agree - 02br
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00We'll make it one way or the other. We'll make it one way or another. It's not that there are really one two ways (the way, and the "other" way) - it just means "We'll find a way to make it work."0-
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0Thank you so much Mr./Mrs. Grammar Geek.02br
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00I'm very glad I was right.02br
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00[You might not understand how difficult it is to learn English.]0-
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0 01font00Now, [6] you have a song running through my head: "One way...or another...I'm gonna getcha getcha getcha getcha...one way...or another". [getcha = get you]. Sung by Blondie, among others.02font00 0-
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Grammar GeekI agree -

We'll make it one way or the other. We'll make it one way or another. It's not that there are really one two ways (the way, and the "other" way) - it just means "We'll find a way to make it work."


Hi GG,

Can I use 'somehow' instead of 'one way or the other' in 'We'll make it one way or the other'?
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The only difference to me is that when you say "one way or another/the other" you are showing your determination to make it work. If you say "somehow" it may sound a little more uncertain, a little more hopeless.
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Hi, GG,

Could you tell me what the sentence means?

"One way or the other, he always seems to win."

Thank you very much for your help.
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He does whatever is necessary to win (even when it looks like others should). It could be said admiringly, or it could be said contemptuously, implying that his "one way or another" techniques are not always fair, kind, or honest.
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Hi, GG,

Many thanks for your kind help.

I have one more question about the sentence here:

Does the speaker not know how the person (he) always wins or the person himself doesn't know how he always wins?
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Maybe neither knows, and they both attribute it to luck. Maybe the person knows but the speaker does not (and wonders how). Maybe they both know, but the "how" is not as important as the outcome - that he wins. This is one of the those things that context and tone of voice would give you some clues.
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Hi GG,

You have been so helpful, I really appreciat it.

Many thanks!
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