Who Is Last Ditch Effort?

A desperate final attempt, as in We're making a last-ditch effort to finish on time. This expression alludes to the military sense of last ditch, “the last line of defense.” Its figurative use dates from the early 1800s.

Where did the term last ditch effort come from?

The term last-ditch comes from William of Orange's 17th-century vow to defend the Dutch Republic from France and Britain to the death.

Is last ditch effort an idiom?

last ditch effort: meaning and explanation

A last-ditch effort or attempt is a final attempt to achieve something when previous efforts have not been successful. ... The idiom 'last-ditch' has military origins – ditches were used to defend castles from attacking armies.