not the end of the world
phrase
informal
: the most terrible and unpleasant thing possible
You would think it was the end of the world the way she's carrying on.
—usually used in negative statements to mean something is not as terrible as it seems to beIt won't be the end of the world if it rains on the day of the wedding.
Losing your job does not have to be the end of the world.
Cite this Entry
“Not the end of the world.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/not%20the%20end%20of%20the%20world. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
