come hell or high water

No matter what. In spite of any obstacle. I don't care if I have to drive through a blizzard—we are getting to this wedding come hell or high water!

Any means necessary, regardless of any difficulty, problem, or obstacle. By hell or high water, I am going to make it to your wedding!

Fig. no matter what happens. (Use hell with caution.) I'll be there tomorrow, come hell or high water. Come hell or high water, I intend to own my own home.

Also, in spite of hell or high water . No matter what difficulty or obstacle, as in I'm going to finish this week, come hell or high water. This colloquial expression, alluding to the destructive forces of hellfire or flood, was first recorded in 1915 but is thought to be older.

If something will happen or be done come hell or high water, it will definitely happen or be done even if there are lots of problems. The previously all-male panel will have two female members this year, come hell or high water. They travel 22 miles a day come hell or high water. Compare with go through hell and high water.

No matter what happens; come what may. The origin of this expression has been lost. One authority claims it is a variation of between the devil and the deep blue sea, “hell” and “high water” representing similar great obstacles. It appears to have originated shortly after 1900. In 1939, at the outbreak of World War II, A. Keith wrote about imperialism, “Let empires be built—come hell or high water, they build ’em.”