now-or-never

See also: now or never

English

Etymology

From now or never (adverb).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌnaʊəˈnɛvə/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌnaʊəɹˈnɛvəɹ/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛvə(ɹ)

Adjective

now-or-never (not comparable)

1. Of a need for a decision, an opportunity, etc.: arising at the present time and requiring action to be taken immediately, or not at all.
   • 1856, [Charlotte Mary Yonge], chapter XIV, in The Daisy Chain; or, Aspirations. A Family Chronicle. […], London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], →OCLC, part I, page 133:

     Margaret knew what it was to expect her visitors to return ‘in one moment,’ and with a ‘now-or-never’ feeling she began, ‘Ethel dear, wait,’ but Ethel was too impetuous to attend.

Translations

arising at the present time and requiring action to be taken immediately, or not at all

• Finnish: nyt tai ei koskaan
• Galician: please add this translation if you can