worst comes to worst

Meaning

If a possible worst-case scenario actually occurs.

Translations

schlimmstenfalls

in het ergste geval

na pior das hipóteses

Etymology

Originally in the form "if the worst come to the worst" with the subjunctive "if it come to" in the sense of "if the worst possible outcome should become the worst possible reality". Often used even today with the same two definite articles, and this is the only form recorded for British English in some dictionaries.