Fred: All my employees have been surly and morose for months. How can I improve their morale? Alan: Why not give everyone a raise? Fred: That's a pretty extreme suggestion. Alan: Yes, but desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies — ► desperate diseases must have desperate remedies proverb extreme measures are justified as a response to a difficult or dangerous situation. Main Entry: ↑desperate … English terms dictionary
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies — The proverb is found in many variant forms. Cf. L. extremis malis extrema remedia, extreme remedies for extreme ills. 1539 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages 4 A stronge disease requyreth a stronge medicine. 1600–1 SHAKESPEARE Hamlet IV. iii. 9… … Proverbs new dictionary
desperate diseases must have desperate remedies — proverb extreme measures are justified as a response to a difficult or dangerous situation … Useful english dictionary
desperate — ► ADJECTIVE 1) feeling, showing, or involving despair. 2) extremely bad or serious: a desperate shortage. 3) having a great need or desire for something: desperate for a cigarette. 4) violent or dangerous. ● desperate diseases must have desperate … English terms dictionary
desperate — see desperate diseases must have desperate remedies … Proverbs new dictionary
desperately — desperate ► ADJECTIVE 1) feeling, showing, or involving despair. 2) extremely bad or serious: a desperate shortage. 3) having a great need or desire for something: desperate for a cigarette. 4) violent or dangerous. ● desperate diseases must have … English terms dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
disease — see desperate diseases must have desperate remedies … Proverbs new dictionary
remedy — see there is a remedy for everything except death desperate diseases must have desperate remedies … Proverbs new dictionary
situation — see desperate diseases must have desperate remedies … Proverbs new dictionary
United Kingdom — a kingdom in NW Europe, consisting of Great Britain and Northern Ireland: formerly comprising Great Britain and Ireland 1801 1922. 58,610,182; 94,242 sq. mi. (244,100 sq. km). Cap.: London. Abbr.: U.K. Official name, United Kingdom of Great… … Universalium
