worst comes to worst

== English == === Alternative forms === the worst comes to the worst (especially UK English), worse comes to worst, bad comes to worst, bad comes to worse, considered incorrect by some: worse comes to worse === 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. === Pronunciation === === Adverb === worst comes to worst (superlative form only) (idiomatic) If a possible worst-case scenario actually occurs. ==== Usage notes ==== The expression is sometimes used in the simple past or past perfect or the conditional or past conditional and is often preceded by one of these or another term: if, when, had, let, lest, etc. ==== Coordinate terms ==== push comes to shove ==== Translations ==== ==== References ====