N152/186

たら最後

Vたら最後Nだったら最後Naな/Naだったら最後

Meanings

  • Once
  • Now that
  • As soon as

About this pattern

Explanation

たら最後 is used to express that once a certain action or situation occurs, a severe, often irreversible or very negative consequence follows. It emphasizes inevitability and finality. It’s common in warnings, cautions, or statements about situations that are hard or impossible to reverse after that point. It’s stronger than a simple conditional; it conveys that nothing can be done to revert the outcome once the condition is met.

Learn in context

Example sentences

一度でも約束を破ったら最後、信用を取り戻すのは難しい。

If you break a promise even once, it’s hard to regain trust.

彼が逃げ出したら最後、この事件は解決されない。

If he runs away, this case will never be resolved.

そんな手を使えば最後、二度と同じ機会は来ない。

If you use such tricks, you’ll never get the same opportunity again.

彼女が怒り出したら最後、誰にも止められない。

Once she starts to get angry, no one can stop her.