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〜ようものなら

if (you dared to), then (disaster)

Verb volitional form + ものなら

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ようものなら says that if someone did something, even a little, the result would be terrible: 少しでも遅れようものなら、部長に叱られる, "if I'm even a little late, the manager tells me off".

It uses the volitional form (遅れよう, 話そう, 転ぼう) plus ものなら. The first half is a small or ordinary action; the second is an exaggerated bad consequence.

It's often used to describe strict people or dangerous situations, with a slightly humorous, exasperated tone: 母に口答えしようものなら、ひどく怒られる, "if I ever talk back to my mother, I get a real telling-off".

Compare ものなら after a potential verb, which is a wistful wish. With the volitional, it's a warning.

Examples

  • 母ははに口答くちごたえしようものなら、ひどく怒おこられる。

    If I ever talk back to my mother, I get a real telling-off.

  • 少すこしでも遅おくれようものなら、部長ぶちょうに叱しかられる。

    If I'm even a little late, the manager tells me off.

  • 彼かれに秘密ひみつを話はなそうものなら、すぐにみんなに広ひろまる。

    If you ever tell him a secret, everyone will know in no time.

  • こんな所ところで転ころぼうものなら、大おおけがをする。

    If you fell somewhere like this, you'd be badly hurt.

  • 試験しけんに落おちようものなら、親おやに何なにを言いわれるか。

    If I failed the exam, I dread to think what my parents would say.

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