the last thing one needs
- idiom
:
lo último que se necesita
- Being criticized in public is the last thing one needs right now.
Examples
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Another delay is the last thing one needs when trying to catch a connecting flight.
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With all the chaos at work, a car breakdown is the last thing one needs.
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A power outage during the big game is definitely the last thing one needs.
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A delay in the project is the last thing one needs at this stage.
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A power outage during the big game is definitely the last thing one needs.
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Another delay is the last thing one needs when trying to catch a connecting flight.
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With all the chaos at work, a car breakdown is the last thing one needs.
Synonyms
120
1.0
People do not like or need it
45
4.3
Not wanted and causing upset or trouble
31
4.6
Not wanted because it is unpleasant, harmful, or causes problems
5
6.1
Causing strong dislike or disgust
5
6.0
A difficult job or duty that people do not want
2
3.8
Not wanted or welcome
1
9.9
Not suitable for a situation and therefore not important to the topic
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
the + last + thing + one + need
The phrase is largely compositional—'last' + 'thing' + 'one needs' yields 'the final/ultimate thing someone would require'—so learners who know the words can infer it refers to something not wanted in the situation. However, the conventionalized pragmatic meaning of 'very undesirable or unwelcome' requires an inference beyond literal composition (contextual/contrastive nuance), so it is not fully transparent.
Etymology
The last thing one needs paints a picture of someone already carrying a heavy load, and the last thing added makes everything fall apart. That's why it means 'something you really do not want' in that moment.