In any way, shape or form

In any way, shape or form is an idiom that may be older than you think. We will examine the meaning of the idiom in any way, shape or form, where it may have come from, and some examples of its idiomatic usage in sentences.

In any way, shape or form is an idiom that means in any manner at all, in any fashion at all, in any way at all. In any way, shape or form is a redundancy, which is a phrase that repeats the same idea with different words or synonyms. The expression in any way, shape or form is used when one wants to emphasize his position. The phrase came into use in the 1700s as simply in any way or shape. By the mid-1800s, the redundant idiom in any way, shape or form was in use.

Examples

“This program will be totally transparent to the Citizens’ and Taxpayers’ review and is not in any way, shape, or form anything consisting of the City’s TIF (Tax Increment Financing) District created back in 2012/2013,” wrote Kavelman. (The State Journal-Register)

“I don’t want to compare them in any way, shape or form,” Fisher said. (Variety Magazine)

“COVID is certainly not behind us in any way shape or form, so maybe the V gets elongated some,” said Peter Tuz, president of Chase Investment Counsel in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Reuters)