〜までだ／までのことだ

(if so) will simply do; merely did (nothing more)

Formation: V-dictionary + までだ / までのことだ (resolve); V-た + までだ / までのことだ (merely did); polite: までです

The pattern has two main uses. After a dictionary-form verb, often after なら, ば or ても, it gives a calm, resolute fallback: 'if that doesn't work, I'll simply do X', with a sense that it is no big deal. After a た-form verb, it plays down one's own action: 'I only did X, nothing more', and is used to deflect praise or justify oneself. 当然のことをしたまでです is a set phrase for this. Both uses appear in speech and writing, and までのことだ is slightly more emphatic. Compared with 〜しかない, which sounds resigned, までだ sounds unbothered and determined. 〜にすぎない also means 'merely' but is a general, objective judgement, often after nouns, whereas た-form までだ explains the speaker's own action or motive. Also related is それまでだ ('that is the end of it'), as in 死んでしまえばそれまでだ.

Variants: 〜までです、〜までのことだ、〜までのことです、それまでだ

Examples

電車が止まっているなら、歩いて帰るまでだ。
If the trains aren't running, I'll just walk home.
お礼なんて結構です。当然のことをしたまでです。
No need to thank me. I only did what anyone should.
気に障ったなら謝るが、事実を言ったまでのことだ。
I apologise if it offended you, but I merely stated the facts.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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