if worst comes to worst

Idioms  

1. Also, if worse comes to worst. In the least favorable situation, if the worst possible outcome occurs. For example, If worst comes to worst and the budget is not approved, the government will shut down, or Go ahead and go to school with a cold; if worse comes to worst the teacher will send you home. This expression is nearly always followed by a solution. [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

if worst comes to worst

Meanwhile, all I'm hearing is people telling me to quit worrying about it because it's all over now, and anyway, if worst comes to worst, we can always go hide over there in that garage.

From Salon ● Nov. 19, 2020

And, if worst comes to worst on their German front, they have another Russia between the Urals and the Pacific, bigger than all of European Russia and the U.S. combined.

From Time Magazine Archive

Meet union with union, strength with strength, and, if worst comes to worst, fight with fight.

From The Blue Goose by Frank Lewis Nason

Oh, if worst comes to worst, the American consul will forward us to New York.

From The Lure of the Mask by Harrison Fisher

I'll tell you when to jump, if worst comes to worst," said he; "but don't you look around now, nor do anything but row.

From Harper's Young People, July 20, 1880 An Illustrated Weekly by Various