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Glite Dictionary
any old how

any old how

8.8
In a careless, messy way
  • idiom
  • Informal
translation icon : de cualquier manera
  • If you answer the questions any old how, you'll lose marks for careless mistakes.

Examples

  • He does things any old how.

  • She threw her clothes into the suitcase any old how before rushing to catch her train.

  • Don't just stack the books any old how; organize them by category.

  • Don't throw the papers any old how!

  • He packed his suitcase any old how, throwing in clothes without folding them.

  • She approached the project any old how, without a clear plan or organization.

  • The notes were written any old how, making it difficult to understand the main ideas.

Synonyms

anyhow
vsany old how
34 2.3

To do something in any way possible

emphasizes a careless and disorganized way rather than neutral choice
haphazardly
vsany old how
9 6.1

In a way that is not planned or organized

is caused by carelessness rather than only randomness
unadvisedly
vsany old how
2 8.4

To do something without thinking carefully first

focuses on careless disorganized method rather than only poor judgment
willy-nilly
vsany old how
  • Informal
1 8.2

In a random, messy way without a plan

is more about careless lack of method than mere disorder
untidily
vsany old how
1 3.4

In a messy way that is not neat

describes lack of planning or care rather than just messy look
unsystematically
vsany old how
6.9

A way of acting that has no order or plan

is more careless and undisciplined in approach

Antonyms

carefully
978 1.0

In a way that shows attention and caution to avoid mistakes or harm

methodically
27 4.0

In an organized step by step way

How Careless

chaotically
1 5.6
haphazardly
9 6.1
any old how
  • Informal
8.8
sloppily
5 2.9
carelessly
20 1.0

Surface Forms

any old how positive

Morphology

any + old + how

Learners who know 'any' (non-specific) and 'how' (manner) can reasonably infer 'in any manner' and therefore approximate the sense 'in any old way.' However, the particle 'old' here is an idiomatic colloquial intensifier and the specific nuance 'careless/disorganized' is not fully predictable from the parts, so it requires some exposure.

Etymology

Any old how likely comes from older speech that put together any, old, and how to mean 'in any way'. Imagine someone hurriedly throwing clothes into a suitcase any old how — that clear image shows why the phrase now means 'in a careless or disorganized manner'.