if









if


<; Klein, OED suggest probably originally from an oblique case of a noun meaning "doubt" (cf. Old High German iba “condition, stipulation, doubt,” Old Norse if “doubt, hesitation,” Swedish jäf “exception, challenge”). As a noun from 1510s.

abbr.

  1. initiation factor

In addition to the idioms beginning with if

  • if anything
  • if at first you don’t succeed, try, try again
  • if it ain’t broke don’t fix it
  • if only
  • if the mountain won’t come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain
  • if the shoe fits, wear it
  • if wishes were horses
  • if worst comes to worst
  • if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em
  • if you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

also see:

  • as if
  • damned if I do, damned if I don’t
  • make as if to
  • no ifs or buts
  • nothing if not
  • (if) push comes to shove
  • what if
54 queries 0.588