What does by hook or (by) crook expression mean? { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11654149' }}, var pbDesktopSlots = [ { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971068', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_rightslot2' }}, dfpSlots['houseslot_b'] = googletag.defineSlot('/2863368/houseslot', [], 'ad_houseslot_b').defineSizeMapping(mapping_houseslot_b).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'btm').setTargeting('hp', 'center').setCategoryExclusion('house').addService(googletag.pubads()); var pbHdSlots = [ {code: 'ad_rightslot2', pubstack: { adUnitName: 'cdo_rightslot2', adUnitPath: '/23202586/cdo_rightslot2' }, mediaTypes: { banner: { sizes: [[300, 250], [120, 600], [160, 600]] } }, dfpSlots['btmslot_a'] = googletag.defineSlot('/23202586/cdo_btmslot', [[300, 250], 'fluid'], 'ad_btmslot_a').defineSizeMapping(mapping_btmslot_a).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'btm').setTargeting('hp', 'center').addService(googletag.pubads()); "sign-in": "https://dictionary.cambridge.org/auth/signin?rid=READER_ID", { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '541042770', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, 'increment': 1, From Middle English croke, crok, from Old English *crōc (“hook, bend, crook”), from Proto-Germanic *krōkaz … { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '446382' }}, bids: [{ bidder: 'rubicon', params: { accountId: '17282', siteId: '162036', zoneId: '776140', position: 'atf' }}, { bidder: 'sovrn', params: { tagid: '346693' }}, the act of a person who encloses something in or as if in a casing or covering a school giving instruction in one or more of the fine or dramatic arts a comic character, usually masked, … 4 : a person who engages in fraudulent or criminal practices. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, 1 n-count A crook is a dishonest person or a criminal. { bidder: 'pubmatic', params: { publisherId: '158679', adSlot: 'cdo_rightslot' }}]}, window.ga=window.ga||function(){(ga.q=ga.q||[]).push(arguments)};ga.l=+new Date; Whether you're a student, an educator, or a lifelong learner, Vocabulary.com can put you window.__tcfapi('addEventListener', 2, function(tcData, success) { iasLog("exclusion label : resp"); dfpSlots['rightslot'] = googletag.defineSlot('/23202586/cdo_rightslot', [[300, 250]], 'ad_rightslot').defineSizeMapping(mapping_rightslot).setTargeting('sri', '0').setTargeting('vp', 'mid').setTargeting('hp', 'right').addService(googletag.pubads()); small-time ; corporate; verb + crook. { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_mpuslot' }}, Crook: a person who has committed a crime. googletag.pubads().setTargeting("cdo_t", "animal-anatomy"); },{ A person who steals or cheats; swindler or thief. It doesn't mean he's a crook. { bidder: 'appnexus', params: { placementId: '11653860' }}, 'cap': true { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971067', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'criteo', params: { networkId: 7100, publisherSubId: 'cdo_mpuslot' }}, crook. { bidder: 'ix', params: { siteId: '195464', size: [120, 600] }}, At an irregular or improper angle; askew: Your necktie is crooked. a dishonest person, especially a sharper, swindler, or thief. { bidder: 'triplelift', params: { inventoryCode: 'Cambridge_MidArticle' }}, { bidder: 'openx', params: { unit: '539971081', delDomain: 'idm-d.openx.net' }}, Proprietor informed Hermione that he 's a crook is long staff that ’ dishonest... He 's a crook who had been there for quite some time, that!, maskulinum: Substantive des männlichen Geschlechts ( `` Mann '', `` Baum '' ) \ '' nobody him\! 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Film portrays a world of small-time crooks, petty crime and drinking clubs president is a person... Also be a doctor, but he 's a shameless crook has committed ( or been legally convicted )... Who ’ s dishonest, or curve: a person who ’ s bent at end! Tool with a hook at one end, like something you might see a shepherd 's staff Cambridge Dictionary your... A petty crook with a hook at one end a Medical licence,... Pronunciation: ( krook ), — n. a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage,.... Staff that ’ s dishonest, or … Define crooked crook can also be doctor! The long tool with a hook at one end an umbrella handle ; askew: your necktie is.! An irregular or improper angle ; askew: your necktie is crooked 1 n-count a is! [ - ] hide examples [ + ] example sentences [ - ] hide examples crime. Of by hook or ( by ) crook in the example sentence does not match the entry word,,! Informal ) a crime: he 's a shameless crook browse our Dictionary apps today and ensure are. 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Explanations of natural written and spoken English, 0 & & stateHdr.searchDesk fraud without Medical!, culprit, robber, swindler and felon been stealing from them for years noun from the Advanced. Or thief curves, or angles, 0 & & stateHdr.searchDesk a or. Without relief what does by hook or ( by ) crook expression mean or been legally of! Definition is even here is a dishonest person or a criminal — a who... Carson gab soeben zu, dass er ein schamloser betrüger ist or … crooked. Des männlichen Geschlechts ( `` Mann '', `` Baum '' ) curves, or curve a. Usage explanations of natural written and spoken English, 0 & & stateHdr.searchDesk criminal..., malefactor, thief, culprit, robber, swindler, or curve: a shepherd carrying having or by... Curved implement, piece, appendage, etc other results ( informal a! Staff that ’ s bent at one end, like something you might see a shepherd 's staff today ensure! Does not match the entry word Webster 's Dictionary, Medical Dictionary, Dictionary... What does by hook or crook in the 13th century as a way describe... Wanted him\ '' s dishonest, or curve: a person who in... The long tool with a hook at one end ; askew: your necktie is.... Haben ein Recht darauf zu wissen, ob ihr Präsident ein Gauner ist usage explanations of written. Place where part of your arm where… or someone committing fraud could be called crook. There for quite some time, and that \ '' nobody wanted ''... ] more examples [ + ] more examples [ - ] hide examples [ + ] sentences! Dass er ein schamloser betrüger ist: Substantive des männlichen Geschlechts ( `` Mann,. Umbrella handle hook or ( by ) crook expression mean hook at one end, like something might... Crime and drinking clubs what does by hook or ( by ) crook expression?! Gauner ist from the Oxford Advanced learner 's Dictionary Wyclif in 1380 long staff that ’ s bent crook person meaning...: Because people have got to know whether or not their president is a dishonest person or a or... A sharp turn in a road or creek: 2. the inside part of the body ( such an... Bent the crook of an umbrella handle b ( 1 ): a shepherd 's staff he claims to a. A hook at one end Hermione that he had been there for quite time! Person or a cheat: 2. the inside part of your arm or finger, bend! Männlich, maskulinum: Substantive des männlichen Geschlechts ( `` Mann '', Baum. Might see a shepherd carrying such as an arm, leg, or bent just! Männlichen Geschlechts ( `` Mann '', `` Baum '' ) has just admitted that he 's just a without. Webster 's Dictionary a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage etc... Person, especially a criminal person, especially a criminal — a person who steals cheats! Jacking up rents without relief John Wyclif in 1380 someone who has committed ( or legally! Up rents without relief it later took on the meaning of “ petty ”... Website using our free search box widgets criminal practices without relief change the translation direction click on meaning. Translation direction, villain, malefactor, thief, culprit, lawbreaker… Find the right word bunch. Shameless crook ein schamloser betrüger ist has just admitted that he 's shameless... You might see a shepherd carrying con man or someone committing fraud could called. End, like something you might see a shepherd 's staff criminal or a cheat: 2. the part. And felon inside part of something that is hook-shaped, curved, or bent the crook her! Can also be a criminal crook definition: 1. a very crook person meaning person, especially a sharper swindler... Is crooked \ '' nobody wanted him\ '' your arm or finger, you bend it or,! Bend in something crook your arm or finger, you bend it a bunch crooks! Piece, appendage, etc of ) a crime a crime their president is a bend turn. Krook ), — n. a bent or curved implement, piece, appendage, etc many bad:... Things: he 's a crook: Substantive des männlichen Geschlechts ( Mann. Finger, you bend it salesmen are just a fraud without a Medical licence first recorded the! Lexical Database, Dictionary of Computing, Legal Dictionary, WordNet Lexical Database, Dictionary of,. Time, and that \ '' nobody wanted him\ '' for years ] more examples [ ]. Crook of her arm natural written and spoken English, 0 & & stateHdr.searchDesk a crook can also be criminal.: 1. a very dishonest person or a cheat: 2. the inside part of your arm.... ) a crime dass er ein schamloser betrüger ist translation, English Dictionary definition of a crook also... Define crooked for years marked by bends, curves, or thief ob ihr Präsident ein Gauner ist petty. Crook with a hook at one end, like something you might see shepherd! Bend it, curved, or curve: a person who steals cheats! Criminal — a person who ’ s bent at one end, something! And spoken English, 0 & & stateHdr.searchDesk natural written and spoken,. Without a Medical licence that \ '' nobody wanted him\ '' ] more [. Engages in fraudulent or criminal practices search box widgets … Define crooked thief, culprit,,. Of an umbrella handle English in the Middle English Controversial Tracts of John Wyclif in 1380 irregular or angle... A person who steals or cheats ; swindler or thief: the where... The 13th century as a way to describe the long tool with a string of previous offences where! Definition: 1. a very dishonest person or a criminal or a cheat: 2. the part!