die in the last ditch en · VERB
Etymology
Popularized from an 1847 translation by Agnes Strickland of a quote attributed to William of Orange during the French invasion of 1672 on his being advised to surrender Holland to Louis XIV: "No, I mean to die in the last ditch."
Meanings
- To fight till death; to die rather than surrender.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| dying in the last ditch | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| dies in the last ditch | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| died in the last ditch | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| died in the last ditch | Tense=Past | lexicographic |