ways

change/mend your ways

to improve the way in which you behave. If he wants to carry on living here, he's going to have to change his ways.

See also: change, mend

cut both/two ways

to have two different effects at the same time, usually one good and one bad. Censorship cuts both ways; it prevents people from being corrupted, but it often also prevents them from knowing what is really going on. (never in continuous tenses)

See also: both, cut, two

(There's) no two ways about it.

something that you say in order to emphasize that something is true. Patricia was the meanest person I've ever met. No two ways about it.

See also: about, two

the parting of the ways

the point at which two people or organizations separate. The parting of the ways came after a series of disagreements between the manager and the group's singer.

See also: parting

see the error of your ways

to understand that you have been behaving badly and to decide to improve your behaviour. It's the story of a corrupt policeman who finally sees the error of his ways.

See also: see

swing both ways (informal)

to be sexually attracted to both men and women. I've seen her out with men as well. She swings both ways, you know.

See also: both, swing

ways and means

methods of achieving something. Surely there are ways and means of achieving our objectives which don't involve spending quite so much money. (often + of)

See also: mean

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change your ways

to improve your behavior. If he wants to continue living here, he's going to have to change his ways.

See also: change

cut both ways

to have both advantages and disadvantages. The Internet cuts both ways – it not only opens borders, it draws boundaries between the people who have it and those who do not.

See also: both, cut

go your separate ways

to end your relationship. We were good friends in college, but after graduation we went our separate ways. The two firms went their separate ways about 18 months ago.

See also: separate

have it both ways

to satisfy two opposing groups or opinions. Americans want to have it both ways, saying they strongly believe in certain principles while reserving the right not to apply them in difficult situations.

Usage notes: often used in the form not have it both ways: I don't see how critics can say that it won't be effective and that it will be too tough – you can't have it both ways.A tough one to define--SL, 10/02 / 2/03 -cb

square the circle

See also: both

mend your waysSee at: change your ways

See also: mend

no two ways about it

there is no doubt about something. She just fell madly in love with him, no two ways about it.

See also: about, two

parting of the ways

a separation of two things or people because of a disagreement. We came to a parting of the ways because of our different ideas about what should be done to move the company forward.

part company (with someone)

See also: parting

quite a ways

a long distance. We're quite a ways from the Mexican border here.

See also: quite

see the error of your/its ways

to accept that you have been wrong about something. What can we do to make Tim see the error of his ways? The industry needs to see the error of its ways and adopt these new safety standards.

See also: see

ways and means

methods of achieving something. She spent years exploring ways and means of improving children's nutrition.

See also: mean

work both ways

1. to have both advantages and disadvantages. Installing the new computer system works both ways – we'll have better control of our business, but we'll lose some of our best workers.

2. to have a similar or equal effect on each side. Asking for sacrifices has to work both ways – workers and management both have to accept cuts.

See also: both, work