Dictionary

last-ditch en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈlɑːs(t)dɪt͡ʃ/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (General-American) audio
• /ˈlæs(t)-/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈlæs(t)ˌdɪt͡ʃ/ (General-American)
• (Australia) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree English last Proto-Germanic *dīkaz Proto-West Germanic *dīk Old English dīċ Middle English dich English ditch English last-ditch From last (adjective) + ditch (noun), referring to an innermost military entrenchment which acts as the last line of defence.

Meanings

1. (idiomatic) Done at or to the very end; final.
2. (idiomatic) Done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences.
   • He sent flowers in a last-ditch effort to keep her from leaving.
   • a last-ditch attack    a last-ditch attempt
   • There was a last-ditch quality to England's defending and when Pierre-Emile Højbjerg shaped a curler for the far corner in the 85th minute, England's hearts were in their mouths. The shot was off target. 2024 June 20, David Hytner, “[Morten] Hjulmand rocket earns Denmark draw as England struggle after Kane opener”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 27 Aug 2025:
   • Only a last-ditch tackle from Michel Salgado denied Didier Drogba after a clever through-ball from [Nicolas] Anelka and, from the resulting corner, [Branislav] Ivanovic flicked the ball on for Ramires, who lashed a half-volley against the bar. 2011 January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 4 – 3 Blackburn Rovers”, in BBC Sport, archived from the original on 11 Apr 2023:
   • That's the warning from RMT [National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers] General Secretary Mick Lynch, who has predicted that industrial action could soon spill over into other sectors of the economy, following the failure of last-ditch talks to avert the largest rail strike since 1989. 2022 June 29, Paul Stephen, “Network News: Strikes Set to Escalate as RMT Issues Rallying Call”, in Rail, number 960, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire: Bauer Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6:

Forms

Relateds

die in the last ditch · last-ditcher · Hail Mary pass · last-ditchery

Synonyms

Hail Mary · in the nick of time · last-minute · last-gasp · eleventh-hour

Translations (10)

fr de la dernière chance (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · fi viimeinen epätoivoinen (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · uk оста́нній відчайду́шний (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · pl ostateczny (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · es a la desesperada (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · es desesperado (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · es último (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · de allerletzter (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · de verzweifelt (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences) · fr dernier recours (done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences)

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