last chance saloon

The story

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.

First known use, by meaning

• from late 19th c. A saloon located at the end of a road or the outskirts of a town.
• from mid 20th c. 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.