Have you seen the phrase 'needs must' somewhere and would like to know more about what the phrase means in this context, or where it might have originated? The phrase 'needs must' is a less common English figure of speech that seems to be making a comeback. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this phrase.
Meaning
The saying 'needs must' is a common English figurative expression that can be used to mean that something is necessary, or that someone had no choice.
The saying 'needs must' is the same as saying that someone has to do something, or that something had to happen as an event.
'Needs must' can be said as a statement, as a response or as an exclamation.
Use of the phrase 'needs must' is generally serious, but can also be used in a joking or sarcastic manner, or for humorous effect.
The phrase can also be used in the denial phrase to say 'not needs must' though this is less common use of the saying.
The origin of the saying had religious implications, but today the phrase can be said for anything.
The further context of what is given as 'needs must' is usually listed in the rest of the discussion.
There are many equivalent phrases for this in the English language, including to say that someone 'has got to do what they have got to do'.
Example Usage
“You know what people say about doing what you have to do. It's not pleasant to clean out the bins in this institution, but needs must.”
“Someone should really let them know they're fired before they come in to pick up their next paycheck. It's not a great job, but needs must.”
“If needs must, then you have got to get back on the horse and try horse riding again. The same strategy just won't work as well if you are into skydiving.”
“Someone has to clean up grandma's house. I know that none of you really want to do it, but you know what they say about needs must.”
Origin
The origin of the phrase 'needs must' is an abbreviation of a longer saying: 'needs must when the devil drives.'
It is the opposite of saying 'Jesus take the wheel' and at the time of the phrase's origin it would have had religious implications, saying that the devil is in control of someone's life or the action that is being spoken about.
The phrase is most commonly abbreviated than used as a whole phrase, especially when the phrase is used with the most modern meaning.
Modern use of the phrase does not carry the heavy religious implication, and the phrase is just used today to mean that something has likely got to be done.
It is likely that the saying emerged somewhere in the 1500s according to online language resources, but the meaning of the phrase must have changed in the 1600s.
The saying is listed on the website Urban Dictionary from the year 2020, even though common use of the phrase happened long before this instance.
Phrases Similar to Needs Must
- [someone] has got to do what someone has got to do
Phrases Opposite to Needs Must
- N/a
What is the Correct Saying?
- Needs
Ways People May Say Needs Must Incorrectly
There are several ways in which someone can use the phrase 'needs must' in the wrong way, or misunderstand the use of the phrase.
'Needs must' is often used as a response, but still requires context from the speaker.
Acceptable Ways to Phrase Needs Must
The correct way to use the phrase 'needs must' is to use it to imply that something has to be done (or that something was done in the past tense out of necessity for something).
The phrase is enough to imply the longer meaning, which is often forgotten by the speaker when 'needs must' is used as a complete phrase.