the worst-case scenario

the worst-case scenario

The worst possible thing that could happen. We don't expect it to happen, but we need to plan for the worst-case scenario. The worst-case scenario here is that we lose the next three games and miss the playoffs. The best-case scenario is that we win out and get a bye in the first round.
See also: scenario
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

worst-case scenario

Cliché the worse possible future outcome. Now, let's look at the worst-case scenario. In the worst-case scenario, we're all dead.
See also: scenario
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

worst-case scenario

n. the worst possible future outcome. Now, let’s look at the worst-case scenario.
See also: scenario
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions

worst-case scenario

See best/worst case scenario.
See also: scenario
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer
See also:
  • worst-case scenario
  • make a case that
  • if anything should happen
  • open-and-shut case
  • an open-and-shut case
  • in case
  • have a case on
  • have a case on (someone)
  • be on (one's) case
  • be on somebody's case
References in periodicals archive
It read: "He was asked to describe a hard border and gave a description of what it used to look like and the risk of what it could look like in the worst-case scenario.
For diminutive rectosigmoid adenomas, the negative predictive value of CAD with stained mode was 96.4 percent in the best-case scenario and 93.7 percent in the worst-case scenario. With narrow-band imaging the best-case scenario was 96.5 percent and the worst-case scenario was 95.2 percent.
And he also admitted that, in the worst-case scenario, the council could be forced to replace the remaining 56,000 bins in the borough.
Summary: Moscow [Russia], Nov.29 (ANI): Lambasting North Korea's latest missile test, Russia has dubbed it as a Pyongyang's 'provocative step' and appealed 'for calm to prevent the worst-case scenario on the Korean Peninsula.'
The government has drawn up plans for the worst-case scenario but didn't make them public due to the possible controversy they may cause.
Summary: Tensions with Russia could cost Turkey's economy $9 billion in the worst-case scenario of "zero relations," the Turkish deputy prime minister said Monday.
Terrorist attacks are part of the worst-case scenario but we have no information leading to these kinds of scenarios at the moment, so that's a good outcome, Padilla said.
The worst-case scenario will be the potential for a hurricane to produce the maximum amount of damage, in this case a category 5 hurricane.
"Such absolute risk estimates allow clinicians to form their own opinion of the clinical importance of the worst-case scenario," he said.
Minister Benny Begin, a geologist and the minister responsible for earthquake preparedness, says it's impossible and illogical to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Begin did not accept the report's conclusions, saying it simply is a way of "scaring the public." He added, "Japan didn't prepare for a 9.0 earthquake" If people were to prepare for the worst-case scenario before entering their car, they would either never drive, or else only if they had an armed personnel carrier."
Compare the worst-case scenarios with what you can potentially achieve, and determine how you would respond if the worst-case scenario occurred.
The worst-case scenario would see him miss the remainder of the tournament.
The worst-case scenario is that he could be out for a few months."
We do have a number of scenarios and scenario-planning, based on the reaction of the FIA, and the worst-case scenario would be to establish our own series." But it is a last resort as FOTA, although weakened in numbers, want to find a peaceful solution with Mosley..
As the pair flashed past the winning post, it seemed certain Angie's Nap had won and, even looking at the freezeframe, I would have thought a dead-heat was the worst-case scenario for her backers.