Popularized and given its current sense through 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."
last-ditch
- (idiomatic)Final, as alast resort; done indesperation.
alast-ditch attack
He sent flowers in alast-ditch effort to keep her from leaving.
2011 January 15, Sam Sheringham, “Chelsea 4 - 3 Blackburn Rovers”, inBBC[1]:Only alast-ditch tackle from Michel Salgado denied Didier Drogba after a clever through-ball from Anelka and, from the resulting corner, Ivanovic flicked the ball on for Ramires, who lashed a half-volley against the bar.
2022 June 29, Paul Stephen, “Network News: Strikes set to escalate as RMT issues rallying call”, inRAIL, number960, page 6:That's the warning from RMT General Secretary Mick Lynch, who has predicted that industrial action could soon spill over into other sectors of the economy, following the failure oflast-ditch talks to avert the largest rail strike since 1989.
2024 June 20, David Hytner, “Hjulmand rocket earns Denmark draw as England struggle after Kane opener”, inThe Guardian[2]:There was alast-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.
Often in the phraselast-ditch attempt orlast-ditch effort.
as a last resort, done in desperation
