last chance saloon en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /ˌlæs(t)tʃæns-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˈlæs(t)-/ (General-American)
- (US) audio
- /ˌlɑːs(t)tʃɑːns səˈluːn/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /ˌlæs(t)ˌtʃæns səˈlun/ (General-American)
Etymology
Said to be from the name of a former type of bar or saloon in the United States in the 19th century that offered customers the final opportunity to drink alcohol before passing into an area where alcohol was prohibited or scarce.
Meanings
- (US, Western, historical) A saloon located at the end of a road or the outskirts of a town.
-
(UK, figuratively) A place that one is said to inhabit when facing an imminent disaster with diminishing or limited remaining opportunities to avoid it; a last chance to take action.
Unless we find a million pounds by Monday, the company will go bust. We really are in the last chance saloon.