Grammar › N1 · 01 Conditions and hypotheticals

〜たら最後: once ... it's over

N1 · 01 Conditions and hypotheticals

Says that once something happens, there is no turning back and a bad result follows.

Verb た-form + ら最後, followed by a negative or hopeless result. Written or emphatic speech. Compare 〜たが最後 (almost the same, a bit more literary) and ordinary 〜たら, which has no "no way back" feeling.

Examples

この秘密を漏ひみつをもらしたら最後さいご、君きみはこの会社かいしゃにいられなくなる。

Once you leak this secret, you will not be able to stay at this company.

あの人ひとは一度いちど怒おこったら最後さいご、何日なんにちも口くちをきいてくれない。

Once that person gets angry, she will not speak to you for days.

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