might as well

English

Alternative forms

• minus well (proscribed, eggcorn)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /maɪt æzˈwɛl/, /maɪzˈwɛl/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

might as well

1. (idiomatic) Used to express somewhat reluctant assent, saying that if one situation exists (or because it does exist), another event or situation that would otherwise be undesirable, difficult, impossible, etc., becomes more feasible or reasonable, or would not make a difference.

   You arrived too early, but since you're here, you might as well come in.

   Macarons are very difficult to make, so you might as well make plentiful if you do decide to make any.

   • 1926, Dorothy Parker, “Résumé,”, in Enough Rope:

     Razors pain you; / Rivers are damp; / Acids stain you; / And drugs cause cramp. / Guns aren’t lawful; / Nooses give; / Gas smells awful; / You might as well live.

   • 2004, Melvin Burgess, Doing It:

     Oh, and while you're here would you like me to look at your fanny? And the girl, says, Yeah, sure, might as well, and off they go.

2. (idiomatic) Used to liken one situation to another, typically saying that the existence of one situation is equivalent to the existence of another, usually more extreme, situation.

   You're going to tell her what I said about her? You might as well shoot me!

   What a waste of time this has been. We might as well have stayed at home.

   • 1898, Alfred Russel Wallace, Vaccination a Delusion:

     Mr. A. Wheeler, and Mr. William Tebb, who, though all were examined and cross-examined on the minutest details, might as well never have appeared so far as any notice in the Final Report is concerned.

   • 1903, Kate Douglas Wiggin, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm:

     "If she makes as much work after she comes as she has before, we might as well give up hope of ever gettin' any rest," sighed Miranda as she hung the dish towels on the barberry bushes at the side door.

   • 1962, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, It Might as Well Rain Until September:

     As far as I'm concerned each day's a rainy day
     So it might as well rain until September

   • 2006, L.A. Bank, The Forsaken:

     Her words trapped him in the bedroom; he might as well have been hanging on the Chairman's torture wall getting his guts ripped out.

Synonyms

• may as well
• as well

Translations

Translations

• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 索性 (sok³ sing³)

  Mandarin: 乾脆／干脆 (zh) (gāncuì)

• Georgian: ბარემ (barem)
• Polish: równie dobrze móc
• Swedish: lika gärna kunna

See also

• while one is at it