every which way
In all directions
Every which way means in all directions or by every possible method, suggesting disorder or lack of coordination.
Papers scattered every which way across the desk.
The phrase can also mean by any means necessary: We tried every which way to fix it.
Informal and chiefly American.
Lacking organization or plan
- randomOccurring without pattern
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- disorganizedLacking systematic arrangement
- jumbledDisordered, lacking arrangement
helter-skelter · pell-mell · topsy-turvy · all over the place · willy-nilly · higgledy-piggledy · chaotic · disarray
Toward one side
- up and downAlternating between extremes
- back and forthRepeated alternating movement
- left and rightIn all directions
- zigzagAngled back-and-forth path
crisscross · divergent · radiating · outward · inward · sprawling · branching · fanning out
haphazard
Lacking organization or plan
- randomOccurring without pattern
- scatteredSpread irregularly about
- disorganizedLacking systematic arrangement
jumbled · helter-skelter · pell-mell · topsy-turvy · all over the place · willy-nilly · higgledy-piggledy · chaotic · disarray · disheveled
sideways
Toward one side
- up and downAlternating between extremes
- back and forthRepeated alternating movement
- left and rightIn all directions
zigzag · crisscross · divergent · radiating · outward · inward · sprawling · branching · fanning out · splayed
every which wayone way
Single permitted direction
unidirectionally · straight ahead · in a straight line · uniformly · forward
every which wayneatly
In orderly manner
systematically · in order · tidily · methodically · in formation
every which wayuniformly
In consistent manner
consistently · homogeneously · alike · identically · regularly
however, every, which, everyday, everyone, everywhere, everything, everybody, whatever