Doing whatever it takes, with piratical or criminal assistance? (2,4,2,2,5)
I believe the answer is:
by hook or by crook
'doing whatever it' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'with piratical or criminal assistance?' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'with' could be 'by' (both can mean close together) and 'by' is found within the answer.
'or' is found in the answer.
'criminal' could be 'crook' (synonyms) and 'crook' is found within the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'takes' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for by hook or by crook that I've seen before include "Somehow" , "using any means" .)