last-ditch (attempt/effort)
Meaning(s)
1. a final, often desperate action taken to achieve something
Popularity
High
Professional
High
Social
How to Memorize
make a last-ditch attempt/effort to do something
Analysis
A last-ditch effort or a last-ditch attempt at is a final effort or action which is performed when everything else has failed. A last-ditch effort or last-ditch attempt is rarely expected to succeed and is the final expending of resources before giving up.
Social Examples (Basic)
- The losing team launched an all-out attack in a last-ditch effort to salvage something from the game. Incredibly, they scored with just seconds left on the clock!
- In a last-ditch attempt to save their marriage the couple attended therapy.
Professional Examples (Basic)
- Before Jane left the job, her boss made a last-ditch attempt to keep her at the firm by offering her a pay rise. Jane felt that it was too little, too late.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- The Board have been making last-ditch efforts to prevent workers from going on strike, but so far their concessions have not done enough to smooth things over.
- The pre-release was a last-ditch effort for the company to capitalise on the Christmas market.