English Reference
Idiom idiom

ready or not

Meaning

Determined, regardless of readiness or preparedness.

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

Examples
SIMPLE

“Ready or not, the exam starts in five minutes.”

CONTEXTUAL

“The project deadline is tomorrow, so we must finish the report, ready or not.”

COMPLEX

“Ready or not, the changing economic landscape forces the company to adapt its long-term strategy immediately.”

Anchors to
Related idioms4entries
  1. 01

    ready and waiting

    Already prepared for action or use.

  2. 02

    ready to roll

    Of a person, machine, vehicle, or plan, fully prepared to begin functioning and operating.

  3. 03

    ready up

    to prepare for use, to get ready

  4. 04

    rough and ready

    Crude or unpolished, but still fit for use; good enough.

Last updated August 10, 2026