Anywhere vs Everywhere

Sleeping Beauty   Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:14 pm GMT
What's the difference between 'Anywhere' and 'Everywhere' in this context?

"Flattery will get you anywhere!"

"Flattery will get you everywhere!"

Which expression is more common and natural to you?
Guest   Fri Jan 04, 2008 5:50 pm GMT
<<"Flattery will get you anywhere!" >>

I don't hear this one much, You might more often hear: "Flattery won't get you anywhere!"
Guest   Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:20 am GMT
yeah i agree with the above poster, anywhere is most often used as a synonym of 'Nowhere' thus "flattery will get you nowhere" and "flattery won't get you anywhere" have the exact same meaning.
furrykef   Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:04 pm GMT
Don't you mean an antonym, since you have to negate the verb to get the same meaning? But you could say that "get nowhere" and "not get anywhere" are synonymous.
guest   Mon Jan 07, 2008 5:32 pm GMT
I usually hear: "Flattery will get you anywhere"

that is also the one I am most likely to use

'everywhere' sounds odd to me, because one isn't trying necessarily to get 'everywhere' with flattery...just to one specific end (i.e. an 'anywhere')
furrykef   Mon Jan 07, 2008 7:33 pm GMT
But "anywhere" isn't a specific place. Indeed, it is explicitly non-specific. I would only use "anywhere" this way if I'm being humorous. Of course, there's nothing wrong with being humorous, as long as it's not inappropriate for the situation.