diff --git a/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops.py b/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops.py
index 5ccfbfe4495ad..0062a7cf7e09e 100644
--- a/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops.py
+++ b/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops.py
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@
 from taichi.lang.impl import static
 from taichi.lang.kernel_impl import func, pyfunc
 from taichi.lang.matrix import Matrix, Vector
-from taichi.lang.matrix_ops_utils import (Or, arg_at, assert_list,
-                                          assert_tensor, assert_vector,
-                                          check_matmul, dim_lt, foreach,
+from taichi.lang.matrix_ops_utils import (arg_at, arg_foreach_check,
+                                          assert_list, assert_tensor,
+                                          assert_vector, check_matmul, dim_lt,
                                           is_int_const, preconditions,
                                           same_shapes, square_matrix)
 from taichi.lang.util import cook_dtype
@@ -79,13 +79,12 @@ def _rotation2d_matrix(alpha):
 
 
 @preconditions(
-    arg_at(
+    arg_at(0, lambda xs: same_shapes(*xs)),
+    arg_foreach_check(
         0,
-        foreach(
-            Or(assert_vector(),
-               assert_list,
-               msg="Cols/rows must be a list of lists, or a list of vectors")),
-        same_shapes))
+        fns=[assert_vector(), assert_list],
+        logic='or',
+        msg="Cols/rows must be a list of lists, or a list of vectors"))
 def rows(rows):  # pylint: disable=W0621
     if isinstance(rows[0], (Matrix, Expr)):
         shape = rows[0].get_shape()
diff --git a/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops_utils.py b/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops_utils.py
index 4fa5d2269c86f..9a8c7458bff45 100644
--- a/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops_utils.py
+++ b/python/taichi/lang/matrix_ops_utils.py
@@ -27,27 +27,17 @@ def wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
     return decorator
 
 
-def arg_at(i, *fns):
+def arg_at(indices, *fns):
     def check(*args, **kwargs):
-        if i in kwargs:
-            arg = kwargs[i]
-        else:
-            try:
+        nonlocal indices
+        if isinstance(indices, int):
+            indices = [indices]
+        for i in indices:
+            if i in kwargs:
+                arg = kwargs[i]
+            else:
                 arg = args[i]
-            except IndexError:
-                raise
-        ok, msg = do_check(fns, arg)
-        if not ok:
-            return False, msg
-        return True, None
-
-    return check
-
-
-def foreach(*fns):
-    def check(args):
-        for x in args:
-            ok, msg = do_check(fns, x)
+            ok, msg = do_check(fns, arg)
             if not ok:
                 return False, msg
         return True, None
@@ -55,28 +45,14 @@ def check(args):
     return check
 
 
-def Or(f, g, msg=None):
-    def check(*args, **kwargs):
-        ok, msg_f = do_check([f], *args, **kwargs)
-        if not ok:
-            ok, msg_g = do_check([g], *args, **kwargs)
-            if not ok:
-                return False, f'Both violated: {msg_f} {msg_g}'
-        return True, None
-
-    return check
-
-
 def assert_tensor(m, msg='not tensor type: {}'):
     if isinstance(m, Matrix):
         return True, None
     if isinstance(m, Expr) and m.is_tensor():
         return True, None
-    raise TaichiCompilationError(msg.format(type(m)))
+    return False, msg.format(type(m))
 
 
-# TODO(zhanlue): rearrange to more generic checker functions
-# for example: "assert_is_instance(args, indices=[], instances=[], logic='or')"
 def assert_vector(msg='expected a vector, got {}'):
     def check(v):
         if (isinstance(v, Expr) or isinstance(v, Matrix)) and len(
@@ -90,7 +66,36 @@ def check(v):
 def assert_list(x, msg='not a list: {}'):
     if isinstance(x, list):
         return True, None
-    raise TaichiCompilationError(msg.format(type(x)))
+    return False, msg.format(type(x))
+
+
+def arg_foreach_check(*arg_indices, fns=[], logic='or', msg=None):
+    def check(*args, **kwargs):
+        for i in arg_indices:
+            if i in kwargs:
+                arg = kwargs[i]
+            else:
+                arg = args[i]
+            if logic == 'or':
+                for a in arg:
+                    passed = False
+                    for fn in fns:
+                        ok, _ = do_check([fn], a)
+                        if ok:
+                            passed = True
+                            break
+                    if not passed:
+                        return False, msg
+            elif logic == 'and':
+                for a in arg:
+                    ok, _ = do_check(fns, a)
+                    if not ok:
+                        return False, msg
+            else:
+                raise ValueError(f'Unknown logic: {logic}')
+        return True, None
+
+    return check
 
 
 def same_shapes(*xs):