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Formation: V-たら + 最後; V-た + が最後

Says that once X happens, a certain result follows and cannot be undone. The result is usually bad, or at least out of your control. It often works as a warning, and the main clause states an inevitable outcome, often with 〜ない, 〜てしまう or 〜だろう, rather than a request or intention. たら最後 is more common in speech, and たが最後 sounds more written and dramatic. 〜てからというもの also links a starting event to what follows, but it describes a lasting change since a real past event, while たら最後 is a general warning that there is no way back. 〜が早いか only describes how quickly one event follows another.

Variants: たが最後、たら最後だ

Examples

• この本は読み始めたら最後、朝まで止まらない。
  Once you start reading this book, you won't be able to stop until morning.
• 彼に秘密を話したが最後、翌日には社内中に知れ渡る。
  Tell him a secret, and by the next day the whole office will know.
• あの森で道に迷ったら最後、二度と出られないという。
  They say that once you get lost in that forest, you'll never get out again.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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