> as lemmas

1630 J. Gaule Practique Theories Abrahams Entertainm. Angels 25 In all offices, men are forward at first; but when it comes to it, who so backward as they?

1643 J. Caryl Expos. 3 First Chaps. Iob ii. 242 Doe not barter away your lives upon mean rates... If it comes to it..sell your lives as deare as you can.

1689 Refl. Late Great Revol. 2 His [sc. God's] Proposal to Abraham was only for Trial; for you see, he would not permit him to kill his Son when it came to it.

1867 E. S. Elliot Copsley Ann. ii. 43 I thought so! When it comes to it you're just like any other girl.

1905 S. C. Comstock Rebel Prince xxvi. 413 Hugh an' I had agreed to make a dash for it with her, an' should it come to it, had sworn to kill Mademoiselle, rather than that she should fall into the hands of this horde.

1937 A. Thirkell Summer Half ii. 45 I could have lent him some of my pyjamas, if it comes to that.

1948 H. Drake-Brockman Sydney or Bush 261 At the last Bill gripped her hand on the wheel. ‘If it comes to it, Bren, take care of yourself as well as the kids.’

1989 I. Murdoch Message to Planet (1990) v. 283 Was Irina right to think that ‘when it came to it’ Marcus might oppose the marriage?

2008 R. Miller Private Lives Pippa Lee 5 But as long as Pippa keeps making that butterflied lamb, I'll even caddie for you, if that's what it comes to.

2014 Daily Tel. (Nexis) 25 Oct. (Business section) 37 We do not discriminate and are very proud of our record in this area which, if it comes to it, we will robustly defend.