needs (redirected from needs must do)

A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

Prov. If you have done something wrong and feel guilty about it, you will be uncomfortable and want to confess even if no one accuses you of wrongdoing. Even though no one noticed him eating most of the cookies, Peter felt so bad about it that he told us what he had done. A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

See also: conscience, guilty

Needs must when the devil drives.

Prov. When you are desperate, you must do things you ordinarily would not do. We're going to have to get an enormous loan to pay for your mother's surgery. I hate to go into debt, but needs must when the devil drives.

See also: devil, drive, must

That's all someone needs. and It's all someone needs.; (It's) just what you need.; That's just what you need.

Someone does not need that at all.; That's the last straw! (Always sarcastic. The someone can be a person's name or a pronoun.) Jane: The dog died and the basement is just starting to flood. Fred: That's all we need. Sally: Bill, the check you wrote to the Internal Revenue Service was returned. There's no more money in the bank. Bill: That's all we need. Bob: On top of having too many bills to pay, now I have car trouble! Mary: That's just what you need!

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needs must

something that you say which means that you will do something only because it is necessary I really don't feel like cooking for all these people tonight but needs must.

See also: must

Who needs it/them?  (informal)

something that you say which means that you think something causes trouble Stress, who needs it? Men, who needs them anyway?

See also: who

With friends like that, who needs enemies?  (humorous)

something that you say when someone you thought was your friend treats you in an unpleasant way He told my girlfriend I was boring. With friends like that, who needs enemies!

See also: friend, like, who

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who needs something (spoken)

what was mentioned is not important or helpful I wouldn’t do it for the money - who needs money?

Usage notes: often used in the forms who needs it or who needs that: My wife suggested therapy, but I've always thought, therapy, who needs it? He never returned my phone calls - who needs that?

Related vocabulary: you don't need this

See also: who