last-ditch effort

Idioms  

1. A desperate final attempt, as in We're making a last-ditch effort to finish on time. This expression alludes to the military sense of last ditch, “the last line of defense.” Its figurative use dates from the early 1800s.

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Example Sentences

As a last-ditch effort, Murrin’s attorneys asked the Supreme Court to hear the case in February.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

Samsung management and union leaders resumed talks on Monday in a last-ditch effort to avoid a strike.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

A last-ditch effort to broker a merger between the rival leagues took place in the White House in February 2025 when President Trump hosted Al-Rumayyan, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Tiger Woods.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

In a last-ditch effort to get back to Duke, Bior obtained a special refugee passport, issued by Uganda, that he hopes will allow him to bypass the South Sudan visa ban.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026

Leaned in and said something to Ali in the backseat, perhaps one last-ditch effort to change his mind.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini