needs must — must needs or needs must (often ironic) Must inevitably • • • Main Entry: ↑need … Useful english dictionary
needs must — something that you say which means that you will do something only because it is necessary. I really don t feel like cooking for all these people tonight but needs must … New idioms dictionary
needs must when the devil drives — Needs must is used elliptically for ‘one needs must (i.e. must of necessity) go’. c 1450 J. LYDGATE Assembly of Gods (EETS) 1. 21 Hit ys oft seyde by hem that yet lyues He must nedys go that the deuell dryues. 1602 SHAKESPEARE All’s Well that… … Proverbs new dictionary
needs must (or must needs) — it is or was necessary or unavoidable. → need … English new terms dictionary
needs must when the Devil drives — ► needs must when the Devil drives proverb sometimes you have to do something you would rather not. Main Entry: ↑need … English terms dictionary
needs must (when the Devil drives) — needs ˈmust (when the Devil drives) idiom (saying) in certain situations it is necessary for you to do sth that you do not like or enjoy Main entry: ↑needsidiom … Useful english dictionary
needs must (when the devil drives) — The expression needs must (when the devil drives) means that you are sometimes forced by circumstances to do something that you do not want to do. I d rather stay with you than attend the conference, but needs must ...! … English Idioms & idiomatic expressions
Now o now I needs must part — was written by the sixteenth seventeenth century composer John Dowland. It was first published in Dowland s book called First Booke of Songes or Ayres of foure partes with Tableture for the Lute (1597). Here are the lyrics: Now, O now, I needs… … Wikipedia
must needs — see under ↑need • • • Main Entry: ↑must must needs or needs must (often ironic) Must inevitably • • • Main Entry: ↑need … Useful english dictionary
needs — originally an adverb meaning ‘of necessity, necessarily’, survives in the somewhat literary phrase needs must: • He can kill a pig. Probably with his bare hands, if needs must Observer Food monthly, 2004. The phrase alludes to the old proverb… … Modern English usage
must — I (New American Roget s College Thesaurus) v. ought, should, had better, have [got] to, need, needs must, have no choice [but to]; be required, obliged, bound, compelled, doomed, destined, etc. See necessity. II (Roget s IV) n. Syn. requirement,… … English dictionary for students
