not if one can help it

Only without one's agreement, only if one cannot prevent it. For example, Is he taking a second job?—Not if his wife can help it, or He's not riding on the back of that motorcycle, not if I can help it. This idiom uses help in the sense of “prevent” or “cause to be otherwise.” [Mid-1800s]

Words nearby not if one can help it

not have it, not have one's heart in it, not have the heart to, not having any, not hurt a fly, not if one can help it, not if you paid me, not in the least, not know beans, not know enough to come in out of the rain, not know someone from adam