last-ditch
/ˈlæs(t)ˌdɪt͡ʃ/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.90 in modern English
15
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
2
Syllables
8
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Done in desperation as a last resort, to avoid bad consequences.
Example Sentences
- "a last-ditch attack a last-ditch attempt"
- "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."
- "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."
- "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."
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.
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈlæs(t)ˌdɪt͡ʃ/
- British English: /ˈlɑːs(t)dɪt͡ʃ/