need yesterday

English

Pronunciation

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Verb

need yesterday (third-person singular simple present needs yesterday, present participle needing yesterday, simple past and past participle needed yesterday)

1. (idiomatic) To need something immediately or urgently; to need something that is already late.
   • 1972 Hearings, reports and prints of the Senate Committee on Government Operations, U.S. G.P.O., p119

     We need help - and we need it yesterday - if local government is to remain a viable entity in our society [...]

   • 1980, Thomas A. Rullo, Advances in computer programming management, Heyden, page 153:

     Many people in systems work are so used to digging in and getting the job done in record time (we need it yesterday!) that the thought of taking several weeks to develop a plan before "doing" anything might sound like heresy to them.

   • 2006, Climate change: the "citizen's agenda", eighth report of session 2006-07, Vol. 2: Oral and written evidence, volume 2, The Stationery Office, page 511:

     We need a cultural change and shift in people’s perceptions of the concept of “progress” but we need it yesterday and are fast running out of time.

   • 2006, Joyce Rosenwald, Michel Bonner, The Sinclair Solution,, page 154:

     “Take care of it then,” the President shouted. “I need a summary of the situation and I need a solution. And, I need it yesterday.”