desperate times call for desperate measures

desperate times call for desperate measures

proverb Extreme and undesirable circumstances or situations can only be resolved by resorting to equally extreme actions. Derived from the proverb, "Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies." I know that the austerity measures introduced by the government during the recession are unpopular, but desperate times call for desperate measures.
See also: call, desperate, measure, times
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • desperate times require desperate measures
  • drastic
  • drastic times call for drastic measures
  • drastic times require drastic measures
  • require
  • desperate
  • desperate diseases must have desperate remedies
  • remedy
  • follow the golden mean
  • road rage
References in periodicals archive
Desperate times call for desperate measures. News of Windows 8.1 with Bing comes from Wzor, a rather renowned Windows leaker from Russia.
Microsoft Considering Windows 8.1 Free Version, to Increase Anemic Market Share
DESPERATE times call for desperate measures with thousands of unemployed showing an interest in paying a one-time fee of e1/41,220 to a company in Larnaca in order to get a job, sources at the labour ministry have revealed, but it could be illegal.
Caution urged over 'guaranteed job' offer
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and in a lawless South where justice is arbitrary and order is maintained by the unprincipled and undisciplined, desperate measures are gambles that sometimes pay off.
Camellia Creek
DESPERATE times call for desperate measures. A spurt in the number of dengue cases in the national Capital has prompted the residents to try out any product that promises to keep the deadly aedis aegypti mosquitoes away.
Dengue scare pushes sales of repellant patches in Capital
Desperate times call for desperate measures, as proved by Arsenal's decision to loan the Elgin Marbles to the British Museum and the Greek government's shock appointment of Gervinho as Finance Minister.
Gunners crisis is akin to a Greek tragedy; PICK OF THE DAY
Desperate times call for desperate measures. So, if Rangers manage to beat Man U tonight, can I ask my wee pal Chick Young to donate his Y-fronts to the nearest fertility clinic?
IT'S OVER TO YOU, FOLKS
They say desperate times call for desperate measures, but the idea of taxing what one already pays as tax (and such contributions are a very direct form of taxation, make no mistake about it), is beyond desperate.
Desperate times
Desperate times call for desperate measures and Ray Drecker's (Thomas Jane) situation couldn't be much tougher.
New comedy series you're guaranteed to get hung up on
Undoubtedly desperate times call for desperate measures, but one can't help but wonder where it will all end.
Smells like tough times; city view
BUT DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES, AND DESPERATE MEASURES CALL FOR
24 hours of preventive maintenance
Similarly, a half-day seminar addresses the idea that Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures: Building Community in Today's Economy.
Professional development creates stronger leaders
Well, desperate times call for desperate measures. At my office, we have recently become superstitious in our fervent desire for new business.
Superstitious better than broke
Desperate times call for desperate measures -- or at least unorthodox ones.
U.S. editorial excerpts -2-
DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES. At one time or another, that cliche has been applied to most aspects of life--war, sports, love, politics, business, you name it.
Lead us not into ... Bending the rules in a tough economy could prove disastrous
But desperate times call for desperate measures and the boss' pride - or some might say pigheadedness - should not be allowed to stand in the way of the nation's 2010 World Cup hopes.
GAME OF 2 HALVES; Off the FENCE