English Reference
Idiom idiom

now or never

Meaning

At this sole opportunity or time, or not at all.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Examples
SIMPLE

“It is now or never if you want to buy those tickets.”

CONTEXTUAL

“She knew it was now or never to tell him how she felt before he moved away.”

COMPLEX

“Facing the final moments of the negotiation, he realized it was now or never to secure the contract that would save his company.”

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a wild goose never laid a tame egg

    Most things are inherited and predetermined.

  2. 02

    any time now

    Very soon.

  3. 03

    first of never

    A nonexistent day; a day that will never come.

  4. 04

    I never did

    An exclamation of great surprise.

  5. 05

    I never miss

    I am aware of what is going on; I know what is happening.

  6. 06

    never in a million years

    Absolutely not.

  7. 07

    never in a month of Sundays

    At no time whatsoever.

  8. 08

    never mind

    Let alone; much less.

Last updated August 10, 2026