last stand
Fight before defeat
A last stand is a final defensive effort against overwhelming odds, typically when retreat or surrender are the only alternatives.
The phrase evokes military scenarios where outnumbered forces fight to the end: Custer's Last Stand, the Alamo.
Figuratively, any desperate final attempt to preserve something: The old guard made their last stand against the merger.
Texas Revolution battleground
- ThermopylaeGreek coastal pass, ancient battle
- MasadaAncient Judean mountain fortress
- Little Bighorn1876 Montana battle site
- BastogneBelgian town, famous siege
Stalingrad · Dunkirk · Balaclava · Leonidas · Spartans · Custer
Armed military engagement
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- garrisonStationed military force
- fortificationStrengthening defenses or nutrients
stronghold · bastion · bunker · barricade · rampart · citadel · trench · outpost
Unable to flee
- doomedDestined for destruction
- hopelessBeyond possibility of success
- direExtremely serious or urgent
- outnumberedExceeded in count
surrounded · futile · desperate · survival · perilous · besieged · overwhelmed · encircled
Courage in danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- sacrificeGiving up something precious
- braveryBoldness before danger
- defianceOpen resistance to authority
martyrdom · glory · honor · gallantry · resilience · fearless · undaunted · resolute
Point of greatest intensity
- finaleConcluding part of performance
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
- reckoningSettlement of accounts
culmination · denouement · epic · saga · legendary · cinematic · dramatic · mythic
Alamo
Texas Revolution battleground
- ThermopylaeGreek coastal pass, ancient battle
- MasadaAncient Judean mountain fortress
- Little Bighorn1876 Montana battle site
Bastogne · Stalingrad · Dunkirk · Balaclava · Leonidas · Spartans · Custer
battle
Armed military engagement
- siegeEncirclement forcing surrender
- fortressHeavily defended military structure
- garrisonStationed military force
fortification · stronghold · bastion · bunker · barricade · rampart · citadel · trench · outpost · redoubt
cornered
Unable to flee
outnumbered · surrounded · futile · desperate · survival · perilous · besieged · overwhelmed · encircled · trapped
valor
Courage in danger
defiance · martyrdom · glory · honor · gallantry · resilience · fearless · undaunted · resolute · steadfast
climax
Point of greatest intensity
- finaleConcluding part of performance
- showdownDecisive final confrontation
- confrontationDirect hostile encounter
reckoning · culmination · denouement · epic · saga · legendary · cinematic · dramatic · mythic · chronicle
- Wild Westcowboy, howdy, sheriff, giddyup, lawmen
- action clichesexplosion, car chase, one-liner, slow motion, shootout
- desperate measuresdesperate plea, desperation move, grasp at straws, hail mary, all or nothing
- Epic BattlesTrojan War, Thermopylae, 300, Gladiator, Braveheart
- fighting wordsfight me, bring it, square up, throw hands, step outside
- heroic taleshero's journey, epic poem, saga, odyssey, quest
last standstrategic retreat
Intentional pullback for advantage
tactical withdrawal · retreat · withdrawal · orderly retreat · fighting retreat
last standsurrender
Cease resistance, yield
capitulation · submission · unconditional surrender · laying down arms · giving up