if need be en · ADV
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
Etymology
Need is a noun, be a subjunctive. Perhaps an alteration of Old English phrases like ġif þearf bēo, literally "if need be". That phrase would have been completely unidiomatic, equivalent to "if a need exists" or "if there is a need". This is because (1) Old English had no indefinite article, (2) the word for "to be" was also the default word for "to exist" and translates the modern phrase "there is", and (3) the subjunctive mood was much more common and often translates the Modern English indicative.
Meanings
-
(idiomatic) If necessary; if there is a need.
And I am quite sure that Max Carrados won't walk in here without making it certain that if he doesn't soon come out again the C.I.D. will smash down the door if need be to find out what has happened.
1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| if needs be | alternative | lexicographic |
Relateds
Translations (35)
de falls nötig (if necessary) · pl ewentualnie (if necessary) · fr si nécessaire (if necessary) · pl w razie konieczności (if necessary) · da om nødvendigt (if necessary) · fa اگر لازم شد (if necessary) · fi jos on pakko (if necessary) · fr au besoin (if necessary) · nl desnoods (if necessary) · pl jeśli trzeba (if necessary) · pl jeżeli to konieczne (if necessary) · tr gerektiğinde (if necessary) · sv vid behov (if necessary) · nl indien noodzakelijk (if necessary) · pt caso necessário (seja) (if necessary) · fi jos on tarve (if necessary) · pl w razie potrzeby (if necessary) · fr en cas de besoin (if necessary) · cs v případě potřeby (if necessary) · nl desgevallend (if necessary) · ru в слу́чае необходи́мости (if necessary) · fr si besoin est (if necessary) · fr s'il faut (if necessary) · pt se necessário (if necessary) · et kui vaja (if necessary) · de notfalls (if necessary) · sv om så behövs (if necessary) · hu ha szükséges (if necessary) · de wenn nötig (if necessary) · de wenn es sein muss (if necessary) · ru е́сли пона́добится (if necessary) · sv om så krävs (if necessary) · it se ci fosse bisogno (if necessary) · es si es menester (if necessary) · sv om så erfordras (if necessary)