last-ditch effort
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.
Nearby words
last word, last word, the, last-born, last-cyclic, last-ditch, last-ditch effort, last-gasp, last-in, first-out, last-minute, lastex, lasting
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
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