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The idiom “six ways to Sunday” means every way possible, and its roots are difficult to trace due to regional variations. The phrase emphasizes the inevitability of reaching Sunday and implies multiple methods of approach for any topic or situation. Its usage implies completeness or broad options and is commonly used in English-speaking countries.
Before becoming the title of a late 1990s mob film starring Deborah Harry, the idiom “six ways to Sunday” was a less commonly used English expression meaning every way possible, completely or wholly. Tracing the roots of such idioms is not always easy, especially given regional preferences and idiomatic variations. Aside from the lack of direct etymological links and stories for the expression, the meaning behind six ways to or from Sunday can be deciphered based on logical assumptions. As with many metaphors, idioms, and figures of speech, an individual unfamiliar with the phrase should be able to determine its meaning without the need for reference.
Applying logical meaning to six ways for Sunday is simple. In terms of the calendar, there are six days after Sunday or six days before Sunday, depending on your perspective. The phrase emphasizes the inevitability of reaching for Sunday, regardless of which day serves as a starting point. Implying that there are six different ways to Sunday simply illustrates that virtually any topic, task, problem, or situation has multiple methods of approach. Discussing any topic and referencing it in this way simply means that there are numerous directions or options and trying every which way ensures completeness.
Typically, the idiom is used to illustrate a wide variety of possibilities, as well as thoroughness in pursuing possibilities. For example, he “studied the topic Six Ways to Sunday before coming to a conclusion.” Used this way, the phrase refers to covering the topic from multiple angles, in every possible way. Alternatively, using the idiom in a statement such as “the crowds dispersed six ways for Sunday” means the crowds disperse in all directions. Other meanings may be implied, depending on the context the phrase is used in, but all usages imply completeness, completeness, or broad options.
Idioms with unknown origins are not uncommon. Based on anecdotal evidence and reports from teachers, linguists and other language professionals, it is assumed that “six ways to Sunday” is an English expression. Experts, as they are, report that it’s typically used on a regional basis in America, England, Australia, and other predominantly English-speaking countries. Variations of the phrase include “six different ways for Sunday” or “six ways for Sunday” as well as changes in the number used, such as seven or nine. Regardless of the number, all of these phrase variations mean the same thing: completely, completely, in all directions, or in every possible way.
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