way

by the way

used to add something that is not connected with what you were saying, or that you have just remembered

Speakers often use by the way to bring up the thing they most wanted to say, as if it were unimportant.

• By the way, did you call your mother?
• I saw Lee yesterday, by the way; he sends his love.

in a way

partly, or from one point of view

Also in some ways, in one way, and in many ways. In no way means not at all.

• In a way, I'm glad the trip was cancelled.
• He's right, in a way, but it isn't the whole story.

no way informal

certainly not

Used to refuse or to show that you do not believe something. There's no way (that) something will happen means it is impossible.

• Lend you my car? No way!
• No way is she only thirty!
• There's no way we can get there by six.

on the way

while going from one place to another

Someone who is on the way, or on their way, is coming; a baby that is on the way has not been born yet. Something that is on the way out is going out of fashion.

• I'll pick up some bread on the way home.
• Sara called to say she's on her way.
• They have a second baby on the way. (coming, not yet born)

give way

break or fall down because of the weight or force on it

Give way to something means be replaced by it, or agree to it after refusing. In British English drivers give way to other traffic, which Americans call yield.

• The old bridge gave way under the weight of the truck.
• Her anger slowly gave way to tears. (give way to: be replaced by)
• In the end, he gave way and let the children stay up late. (agree after refusing)

get in the way

be in a position or a situation that stops someone from moving, seeing, or doing something

Get in the way of something means stop it from happening or from being done well.

• Move those boxes; they're getting in the way.
• Don't let your pride get in the way of an apology.

in the way

in a position that stops someone from passing, seeing, or doing something

• Am I in your way?
• A large truck was parked right in the way.

out of the way

no longer in a position where you block someone, or in a place far from towns and people

Get something out of the way means finish it so that you need not think about it any more. An out-of-the-way place is far from anywhere.

• Get out of the way, the bus is coming!
• Let's get the boring jobs out of the way first. (finished and no longer a worry)
• They live in a small village, a little out of the way.

the other way around

the opposite of what has just been said or of what you might expect

Also means in the opposite order or position. British English also says the other way round.

• I don't work for him; it's the other way around, he works for me.
• You've put the batteries in the other way around. (in the opposite position)

way of life

the typical way that a person or a group lives, with its habits, work, and beliefs

• Fishing has been a way of life in the village for hundreds of years.
• Moving to the city meant a whole new way of life.

all the way

the whole distance to a place, or completely and to the end

Go all the way can also mean, informally, have sex.

• We walked all the way to the top of the hill.
• She was with me all the way through the illness.
• If you start, you must go all the way.

by way of something formal

through a place, as a route, or as a kind of something

• They flew to the island by way of the capital.
• He said a few words by way of introduction.

make way

move to one side so that someone or something can pass

Make way for something also means be replaced by it.

• Make way, please! Let the nurse through.
• The old cinema was pulled down to make way for apartments. (make way for: be replaced by)

make your way

go somewhere, especially slowly or with difficulty

Make your way in the world means become successful by your own efforts.

• We made our way slowly through the crowd.
• The guests made their way to the dining room.

go out of your way

make a special effort to do something, more than is expected of you

• The hotel staff went out of their way to make us comfortable.
• Don't go out of your way to get it; I can wait.

either way

no matter which of two things happens, is true, or is chosen

• We can eat in or go out; either way is fine with me.
• Either way, we need to leave by eight.

one way or another

by some method, even if you do not yet know which

Also means for one reason or another, or in one of several possible ways. One way or the other is used in the same way.

• One way or another, we'll get the money.
• Everyone was affected by the storm, one way or another. (for one reason or another)

get your own way

make other people let you do what you want

Also have your own way. Have it your way is said, often with annoyance, when you stop arguing and let someone do as they want.

• Kim always gets her own way in the end.
• Fine, have it your way; we'll take the bus. (have it your way, said with annoyance)

go your separate ways

end a relationship or a period together and live or work apart

• After college, the two friends went their separate ways.

the hard way

by having a bad experience, rather than by being told or taught

Used with learn, find out, and do.

• I learned the hard way that you should always keep a copy of your files.
• Some people have to find things out the hard way.

way to go informalAmerican

used to praise someone who has just done something well

• You passed! Way to go, Ravi!
• Way to go, Sam, you've broken the printer again. (ironic)

have a way with something

have a natural ability to deal well with something or someone

Have a way with words means speak or write well; have a way with children or animals means handle them well.

• Omar has a way with words.
• She has a way with difficult customers.

lead the way

go first to show the route, or be the first to do something new

• You know the building, so you lead the way.
• The company led the way in making cheaper phones.

pave the way for something

make it possible or easier for something to happen later

• The new law paved the way for cleaner factories.

in a big way informal

very much, or on a large scale

• The town has changed in a big way since the factory came.

in the way of something

of the kind mentioned

Used mostly after not much, nothing, or what.

• There isn't much in the way of entertainment in the village.
• What do you have in the way of vegetarian food?

go a long way

be very useful or effective, or last for a long time

Go a long way toward doing something means help a lot.

• A little politeness goes a long way.
• The money won't go a long way with prices like these.

come a long way

make a lot of progress

• Your English has come a long way since last year.
• The town has come a long way since the mine closed.

rub someone the wrong way informalAmerican

make someone a little angry without meaning to, by the way you act

The British form is rub someone up the wrong way.

• Something about his tone rubbed her the wrong way.

no two ways about it

used to say that something is certainly true, even if it is unwelcome

• We're lost, no two ways about it.

laugh all the way to the bank informal

make a lot of money easily, especially from something that others thought foolish

• The critics hated the film, but the studio laughed all the way to the bank.

in a bad way informal

very ill, or in serious trouble

• After the fall, the old dog was in a bad way.
• The company is in a bad way and may close.

look the other way

choose not to notice something wrong that you could stop

• The guards looked the other way while the goods were carried out.

know your way around

be familiar with a place or a subject, so that you can deal with it easily

• She knows her way around the kitchen.
• Ask Lee; he knows his way around the tax rules.

a way out

a method of escaping from a difficult situation

• There seemed to be no way out of the debt.
• Selling the car gave them a way out.

the way forward

the best action to take next

• Talking to each other is the only way forward.