last-ditch

alternative last ditch

1. idiomaticDone at or to the very end; final.

   Synonyms: eleventh-hour, in the nick of time, last-gasp, last-minute

2. idiomaticDone in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences.

   a last-ditch attack    a last-ditch attempt

   4 more examples

   He sent flowers in a last-ditch effort to keep her from leaving.

   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

   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

   Synonyms: Hail Mary