both ways
Britishadjective
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another term for each way
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(usually with a negative) to try to get the best of a situation, argument, etc, by chopping and changing between alternatives or opposites
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
And the effects run both ways: embankments and barrages built for India's protection have raised water levels and caused backwater flooding in Nepal's Terai, which is Nepal's long-standing concern,' says Sanyal.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
The comparisons to John, however, played both ways.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
The cross-Cabinet pet diplomacy apparently goes both ways: The Rubios’ goldendoodle has wandered into the Hegseth home.
From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2026
But the volatility can also cut both ways.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 10, 2026
He immediately tightened his grip on Finn’s shoulder and looked both ways for cars.
From "The Strangers" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
