if/when all else fails
phrase
: if/when everything else one has attempted has failed
He only bothers to read the directions if/when all else fails.
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 11 Mar. 2026.
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