Originally Posted by badgoodDeb
Perhaps it means "by way of having to go rob from the rich, before you can give to the poor" --which would take some additional time. Hence, "by way of Robin Hood's barn".
However, I could see the phrase meaning "by less than reputable means" rather than "the long way". I.E. The "wrong way" or at least the "skirting the law" way.
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