il le fallait

it had to be done

→ il

phrase Rare #33,297

it had to be done Used to say that something was necessary or had to happen. In phrases like comme il le fallait, it can mean 'properly' or 'as it should have been'.

FR: J’ai pris le train tôt parce qu’il le fallait.

EN: I took the early train because I had to.

Vous avez dit qu'il le fallait parce qu'il courait un grave danger.

You said it was necessary because he was in grave danger.

— Des hommes d'honneur (1992)

Tout a pourtant été fait comme il le fallait.

Yet everything was done as it should have been.

Il le fallait.

It was necessary.

— The Big Sick (2017)

Parce qu'il le fallait.

Because it was necessary.

Il le fallait bien.

It was necessary.

Tom n'a pas pu emprunter autant d'argent qu'il le fallait.

Tom couldn't borrow as much money as he needed.

Est-ce qu'il le fallait ?

Was it necessary?

— New York Masala (2003)

Il le fallait, vraiment.

It was really necessary.

— Oppenheimer (2023)