last-gasp

British  

noun

1. (modifier) done in desperation at the last minute

   a last-gasp attempt to save the talks

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last gasp Idioms  

1. The moment before death; also, the end. For example, “Fight till the last gasp” (Shakespeare, 1 Henry VI, 1:2), or He was determined to stay at the party until the last gasp. This idiom alludes to taking one's last breath, literally (first example) or figuratively (second example). [Late 1500s]

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Example Sentences

Fulham will have Alex Iwobi, Samuel Chukwueze and Calvin Bassey back from the Africa Cup of Nations, and I am not reading too much into their last-gasp defeat at Leeds last week anyhow.

From BBC

A last-gasp Luis Suarez header condemned Paris Saint-Germain to a 2-1 defeat at Sporting Lisbon on Tuesday jeopardising the Champions League titleholders' chances of a top eight finish and direct qualification for the last-16.

From Barron's

The North African team were touching distance away from ending a 50-year curse and lifting the cup when they were awarded a controversial last-gasp penalty.

From Barron's

That would have been enough to earn the losing bonus point but Smith's last-gasp penalty denied them that and sent them into the Challenge Cup knock-outs.

From Barron's

Philadelphia converted the fourth down on a pass to tight end Dallas Goedert, but the last-gasp drive eventually stalled at the San Francisco 21.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• do-or-die
• frantic
• last-gasp