What does "Eight ways to Sunday" mean? Where did it come from?

Question

I did a research, but I could not find a definitive answer. In each case the author was not sure.

Answer 1

Several perspectives:
It means it means "in every way possible."
Also used: six days to Sunday
(At least the numbers in this version make sense, referring to the fact that there are first six days, and the seventh one is Sunday)

SIX ways from Sunday: Used often to descibe different methods of doing the same thing. i am guessing it came from peole with a bad case of the mondays who think its along time untill they can relax again on sunday. possibly of british origin.

Wikipedia has this on an idiom chart:
six ways to Sunday; six ways from Sunday USA In every possible manner; by every imaginable method
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Transwiki:List_of_idioms_in_the_English_language_(S)

Plus a few oddball interpretations:
sixteen ways from Sunday (in all directions)

sorry I can't find anything more definitive

Answer 2

Six Ways From Sunday

Answer 3

6 Ways To Sunday

Answer 4

The more common saying is "Six ways to Sunday", and often is (mis?)stated "six ways from Sunday".

It means the same as "every which way", or over and over, as in "sliced and diced six ways to Sunday".

There is a movie by this name, and a rock band in the UK, and the title to a song.

Like many folk sayings, the origin is obscure, which explains why you could not find a definitive answer. For a very lively discussion on the subject, see the link below.

Answer 5

Posted by Smokey Stover on November 13, 2003
In Reply to: Re: "6 Ways to Sunday" posted by ESC on November 13, 2003

: : Does anyone know the origin of the phrase, "6 Ways to Sunday"? It was used by a co-worker to imply thoroughness, as in, "You need to test 6 ways to Sunday to make sure we test all possibilities."

: : Thanks.

: We have discussed this before and haven't come up with a definitive origin. Here's my take (from the archives):

: Eight ways to Sunday/ Six ways to Sunday - I've heard these and used them occasionally. But I'm not exactly sure what they mean! And they aren't listed in my books. So I'm guessing here. I understand that they both mean - scattered. My necklace broke and the beads went eight ways to Sunday. And (this is a bit violent): He knocked him six ways to Sunday. Calling up an image of flying teeth.

: Anyone have any other ideas?

: It used to be "Six ways from Sunday."

Re: "6 Ways to Sunday" Funday 13/November/03 (0)

Answer 6

In stead of going in a strait line from point A to point B, you or somebody has asks then to make a side trip to point c on the way, "out of the way. Some time it is use as, do not go out off you way, Meaning if it will be to much for you to do. don't do it now. Yes clear as mud.

Answer 7

All of the above.

That is one of the reasons that English is amongst the hardest languages to master.