desperate measures

desperate measures

Extreme and undesirable actions taken as a solution to a problem that cannot be resolved by ordinary means. With his job gone and debt mounting, John was forced to take desperate measures to keep his home.
See also: desperate, measure
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • desperate
  • desperate diseases must have desperate remedies
  • remedy
  • require
  • drastic
  • drastic times call for drastic measures
  • drastic times require drastic measures
  • desperate times call for desperate measures
  • desperate times require desperate measures
  • dodge a bullet
References in periodicals archive
20 ( ANI ): The fear of failure is so high among students taking the Uttar Pradesh Board examinations that some of them turned to desperate measures like attaching notes on their answer sheets.
"I mean, the HSE has so much staffing, they have an enormous amount at management level, it just beggars belief that those working in the offices then have to resort to such desperate measures as to have to search high and low for spare rubber bands."
Critique: Once again author Jo Bannister demonstrates her total mastery of the police procedural mystery novel genre with "Desperate Measures".
Exhaustion ensues, friendships fade, libidos drop, sex becomes a chore or a bore, and desperate parents might resort to desperate measures. None of the playwright's revelations--the loss of Identity, the illicit affairs, the empty bed and all the other pains of middle-age desperation --will come as news to straight couples with children, although they might be entertained by watching other people repeat all their own mistakes.
The central bank (CBN) said in a statement it believed the 22 percent depreciation in the naira after it scrapped the official foreign exchange window "is optimal at this time" and the bank would not be pressured into "desperate measures".
Meanwhile, Alison resorts to desperate measures to pay a bill and Claire asks Spencer out.
Meanwhile, Alison resorts to desperate measures to pay a bill and Claire GRAYSON PERRY'S DREAM HOUSE C4 9pm Cross-dressing artist Grayson Perry (above) is known for his risky and ambitious work, and this might just be his biggest project yet.
Woodbridge, VA, October 04, 2014 --(PR.com)-- A Virginia based video production company, Craftline Productions LLC, and founder of Anora Media, a small video production company with just over three years in the video production industry collaborates with award winning cinematographer, “Blackmagic Tim,” creator of “Apple Crumb Panic” - 1992, in the upcoming "Desperate Measures Film."
Mohammad Khalil took these desperate measures after his name was taken off the list of those benefiting from monthly rent payments by UNRWA to families who lost their homes during the Nahr al Bared clashes.
THESE are desperate times for the National Conference (NC) and the party is taking desperate measures to remain significant.
Elsewhere, Zak is forced to resort to tough love and desperate measures to try and show Belle that life behind bars will be a lot harder than she seems to think.
Desperate times call for desperate measures. The recent tragedies and loss of lives in Tunisia, has led Saber Ribai to do the unthinkable: appear in public with his daughter 'Safa' and expose her to the world of press.
I would like to head to the south to explore regional cinema." Kaashh revolves around a few youngsters and their desperate measures to overcome financial crisis.
"We came to desperate measures in Sydney and I chanced a beer," he said.
Ruby thinks she's losing Sinead, so resorts to desperate measures to keep in her good books and Darren makes a last attempt to save Mobs.