ばそれまでだ (ba-sore-made-da): If that happens, that is the end
～ばそれまでだ (ba-sore-made-da)
Meaning
If that happens, that is the end
Formation and usage
conditional + それまでだ
Notation: N = noun; V dictionary = dictionary-form verb; V stem = the stem before ます; plain clause = plain-form clause; negative stem = the form before ない. Follow the attachment shown above.
Explanation
An event would make prior effort pointless or bring the possibility of continuing to an end.
Examples
会議が中止になればそれまでだが、今は準備を続けたい。
If the meeting is canceled, that will be the end of it, but for now I want to keep preparing.
試験が中止になればそれまでだが、今は準備を続けたい。
If the exam is canceled, that will be the end of it, but for now I want to keep preparing.
研修が中止になればそれまでだが、今は準備を続けたい。
If the training session is canceled, that will be the end of it, but for now I want to keep preparing.
発表会が中止になればそれまでだが、今は準備を続けたい。
If the presentation event is canceled, that will be the end of it, but for now I want to keep preparing.
面接が中止になればそれまでだが、今は準備を続けたい。
If the interview is canceled, that will be the end of it, but for now I want to keep preparing.
How related patterns differ
かけ leaves an action unfinished; たきり leaves a subsequent action absent. も同然だ treats a state as practically reached; ところだった nearly reaches it but avoids it. ばそれまでだ makes a consequence final; いったん can mean once or temporarily.