それまでだ
If… then it is all in vain, It's done, It is useless, No point, It is a waste, That's it, It is all gone,
Structure
Verb [ば] + それまでだ
Explanation
ばそれまでだ is used to express a hypothetical situation where if something happens, it will be the end of the matter. It strongly implies that any effort or progress made up to that point will be rendered meaningless. Standard translations include ‘if (A) happens, it’s all over’, ‘if (A) happens, it’s all for nothing’, or ‘if (A) happens, there’s no going back’.
While the conjunction particle ば is the standard form for this grammar point, the conjunction particle たら may also be used in its place.
- この作品は繊細だから、落とせばそれまでだ。This artwork is delicate, so if you drop it, it's ruined.
- 一生懸命勉強しても、試験に寝坊すればそれまでだ。No matter how hard you study, if you oversleep for the exam, it's all for nothing.
- 彼が来る前に気づかれたらそれまでだから、静かにして！Be quiet! If he realizes what's going on before he arrives, the surprise will be ruined.
- バックアップを取っていないと、データが消えたらそれまでだよ。If you don't keep a backup, once your data gets deleted, it's gone forever.
This grammar point is often used in sentences where the first part contains ても or でも. This emphasizes that ‘even if you do (A), should (B) occur, it will all be pointless’.
Caution
と言われればそれまでだ is a fixed phrase used to acknowledge a counter-argument before presenting one's own point. It means something like ‘if you put it that way, I can’t argue, but…’, or ‘you may be right in saying (A), however…’. It literally means ‘if that were said, that would be the end of it, but…’.
- ただのゲームだと言われればそれまでだが、それでも負けたくない。You could say it's just a game, and you'd be right, but I still don't want to lose.
Examples
Ａ：「やっとこの料理が完成したぞ！」
Ｂ：「すごい！でも、食べる前に床に落としたらそれまでだから気をつけてね。」
A: 'I've finally finished this dish!'
B: 'Amazing! But be careful, because if you drop it on the floor before we eat, it's all for nothing.'
いくら高価な薬でも、飲むタイミングを間違えればそれまでだ。
No matter how expensive the medicine is, if you take it at the wrong time, it's all for nothing.
これはただの古い時計だと言ってしまえばそれまでだが、私にとっては祖父の大切な形見なんだ。
If you just say this is an old watch, then that's the end of it, but to me, it's a precious keepsake from my grandfather.
試験の日に：「徹夜で勉強しても、寝坊して試験に間に合わなかったらそれまでだよ。」
On the day of the exam: 'Even if you study all night, if you oversleep and miss the exam, it's all been for nothing.'
コンピュータウイルスについて：「パスワードが盗まれたらそれまでだ。」
Regarding computer viruses: 'If your password gets stolen, it's all over.'
彼の成功は運が良かっただけだと言ってしまえばそれまでだが、その裏には人一倍の努力があったことを忘れてはいけない。
You could just say his success was pure luck and leave it at that, but you mustn't forget the extraordinary effort he put in behind the scenes.