Japatan
Formation
- V仮定形(〜ば) + それまでだ
- Vた形 + ら + それまでだ
- Vて形 + しまえば + それまでだ
Explanation
It means that if a certain thing happens, everything ends there and all earlier effort is wasted. It often appears as どんなに〜ても、…ばそれまでだ. The set phrase 〜と言ってしまえばそれまでだ means 'if you put it that way, there is nothing more to say', usually followed by が and a different point of view.
Examples
どんなに勉強しても、試験の日に 寝坊すればそれまでだ。
No matter how hard you study, if you oversleep on the exam day, it's all over.
旅行の計画をしっかり立てても、台風が 来たらそれまでだ。
Even if you plan a trip carefully, if a typhoon comes, that's the end of it.
いくら高いカメラを買っても、使わなければそれまでだ。
However expensive a camera you buy, if you don't use it, it's wasted.
運が悪かったと 言ってしまえばそれまでだが、準備が足りなかったのも事実だ。
You could just say it was bad luck, but it's also true that we weren't prepared enough.
Notes
A conditional form (ば, たら) comes before それまでだ. It is used for unwanted results, expressing that everything becomes useless.
Related grammar
Mini quiz
1どんなに立派な計画も、実行（ ）それまでだ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 4 しなければ
However fine a plan is, if you don't carry it out, it's worthless. A conditional like しなければ must come before それまでだ.
2忙しかったと（ ）それまでだが、連絡くらいはできたはずだ。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 2 言ってしまえば
You could just say you were busy, but you surely could have at least contacted us. と言ってしまえばそれまでだが is a set phrase; the other choices do not connect to それまでだ.
3毎日練習しても、本番で緊張して失敗すれば（ ）。
Answer and explanation
Answer: 3 それまでだ
Even if you practice every day, if you get nervous and fail in the real performance, it's all wasted. 1 and 2 do not fit the meaning, and 4 cannot end a sentence.
