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• last-gasp
  last-gasp

  noun

  (modifier) done in desperation at the last minute
• last gasp
  last gasp

  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]

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

See Examples For:

last-gasp last gasp

After last week's last-gasp win over the Eagles, it was a role reversal for the Jacksonville Jaguars as they remained in London to face the Houston Texans.

From BBC ● Oct. 19, 2026

The second a blistering last-gasp effort from Ainsley Maitland-Niles introduced for his debut as a substitute.

From BBC ● Sep. 6, 2026

Speaking at his post-match news conference, Croatia boss Zlatko Dalic refused to give detailed thoughts about his side being denied a last-gasp equaliser.

From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026

Mee gained his reward before North fittingly had the final word when he strolled over for his second try and converted Arata's last-gasp score.

From BBC ● Jun. 27, 2026

But that deal failed to get final approval -- with one diplomat telling AFP that Latvia had lodged a last-gasp objection.

From Barron's

The final third of the show went rat-a-tat with songs from the last gasp of the Top 40 monoculture: “Grenade” and “Uptown Funk” and the like.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

That proved to be the last gasp for the American attack.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

All these years later, Carrie waits for the show’s last gasp to wrestle with the question that has defined modern dating for millions of single people.

From Salon ● Aug. 15, 2025

"We are seeing the last gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles," António Guterres told the UN Security Council.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2025

The sun shines brightly, but the last gasp of winter air makes the day feel chilly.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

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Related Words

• do-or-die
• frantic
• last-gasp

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