need yesterday: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘need yesterday’ mean?
The idiom "need yesterday" refers to a pressing and urgent need for something to be done or provided immediately, emphasizing the importance of timeliness.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "this minute" means immediately or without any delay. It implies that the action or event being referred to needs to happen right away, emphasizing the urgency and importance of the situation.
The idiom "pressed for time" means to be in a hurry or have a shortage of time to complete a task or attend to something important.
An idiom meaning to be in a difficult or challenging situation that needs to be resolved or fixed. It implies being in a state of trouble or inconvenience.
The idiom "out of date" means something or someone that is no longer current, modern, or in fashion.
The idiom "on-the-spot" means to be in a situation where decisions or actions must be made immediately, without any time to prepare or think about it.
The idiom "on the spot" means to do something immediately or to be put in a situation where one is required to perform or make a decision without any preparation or advance notice.
The idiom "on the button" means to be exactly punctual or precise, often referring to an exact time or the right moment for something. It is used to indicate accuracy and timeliness.
The idiom "on hand" means to be available or accessible in the present moment or in a particular place.
The idiom "one's days are numbered" means that someone is likely to die soon or that their life will come to an end in the near future.
The idiom "on demand" means something that is available or provided immediately when requested or desired.
Urgency Unleashed
The idiom "need yesterday" is a phrase commonly used to convey a sense of urgency or a strong desire for something to be completed immediately. This figurative expression is primarily used in informal speech and writing. When someone says they "need yesterday," it implies that they require something to be done or provided as soon as possible, preferably in the past.
This idiom is related to the phrase "hour of need", which also conveys a sense of urgency. "Hour of need" refers to a time when someone desperately requires help or support. Similarly, when someone says they "need yesterday," they are emphasizing the importance and immediacy of their request, as if it's their "hour of need."
Another related idiom is "pressed for time," which means to be in a hurry or have limited time to complete a task. When someone says they "need yesterday," they are expressing a similar sentiment - they are feeling pressed for time and require immediate action.
The idiom "now or never" is also closely related to "need yesterday." It implies that there is a small window of opportunity to act, and if that opportunity is missed, it may never come again. When someone says they "need yesterday," they are emphasizing the urgency of the situation and the need for immediate action, as if it's a "now or never" situation.
Finally, the phrase "as soon as" is another related idiom. It is used to indicate that something should happen immediately or without delay. When someone says they "need yesterday," they are essentially saying that they require something to happen as soon as possible, without any delay.
Using these related idioms in the article, it is clear that the idiom "need yesterday" is a way to convey a sense of urgency and emphasize the immediate need for something to be done or provided. It is a figurative expression used in informal speech and writing to express a pressing requirement. In a world where time is of the essence, phrases like "hour of need," "pressed for time," "now or never," and "as soon as" help us understand the urgency and importance attached to the idiom "need yesterday."
Example usage
1. I have a report due tomorrow and I need those files yesterday.
2. Our client is always demanding projects to be completed on very short notice, they always need everything yesterday.
3. The teacher assigned a lot of homework and it feels like we need to finish it yesterday.