if/when all else fails

idiom

: if/when everything else one has attempted has failed
He only bothers to read the directions if/when all else fails.

Examples of if/when all else fails in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Especially bad cankers may be treated with a medication called CellCept, which does suppress the immune system to bring down inflammation—but only if all else fails. Matt Fuchs, TIME, 26 Feb. 2025 And when all else fails, costumes help differentiate characters, too. Gordon Cox, Variety, 18 Feb. 2025 Stay informed, stay calm, and if all else fails, seek legal advice. Kurt Knutsson, Cyberguy Report, Fox News, 10 Feb. 2025 Clips coming out of the Russia-Ukraine war show lucky shots saving lives when all else fails. Colin Demarest, Axios, 8 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for if/when all else fails

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“If/when all else fails.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/if%2Fwhen%20all%20else%20fails. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!