“When push comes to shove” in Japanese
Short answer
When push comes to shove in Japanese is “いざとなったら” (izatonattara). Full meaning: when push comes to shove, when needed, when necessity arises, when the moment arrives.
Other ways to say “When push comes to shove” in Japanese
いざって時
izattetoki at the critical moment, when the time comes, when it's most important, when necessary, in an emergency, when push comes to shove
いざという時
izatoiutoki at the critical moment, when the time comes, when it's most important, when necessary, in an emergency, when push comes to shove
Looking for the other direction? Search any Japanese word in the Nihoner lexicon, or practise what you have learned in the learning games.