De gré ou de force

Meaning: Willingly or unwillingly; one way or another.

Literally: By goodwill or by force

Example: “De gré ou de force, tu iras chez le dentiste demain.” — By hook or by crook, you're going to the dentist tomorrow.

English equivalent: By hook or by crook

Equivalents in other languages

Origin: Gré is consent, from Latin gratum, what is pleasing. The pairing is a legal formula that survives in ordinary speech as a threat.

À huis clos In closed session, with the public excluded.
Mettre à l'index To blacklist something or exclude it from acceptable use.
Un violon d'Ingres A serious passion pursued outside one's actual profession.
Un coup de Jarnac An unexpected decisive stroke, delivered within the rules but not quite sportingly.
Jeux de mains, jeux de vilains Horseplay ends badly.
On ne peut être juge et partie Nobody may rule on a matter in which they have an interest.

Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.

Tête de mule An impossibly stubborn person who refuses to change their mind no matter what.
C'est une vraie chèvre They're hopelessly stubborn and infuriating — a goat that refuses to be moved.
Casse-pieds A massive bore or pain in the neck — someone who wears you down with their irritating way…

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