The last resort
Meaning
A final course of action taken only after all other options have been exhausted or proven unsuccessful.
Origin
The word 'resort' springs from the Old French 'resortir,' meaning "to sally forth again" or "to rebound." But English quickly gave it a deeper, more desperate meaning in the 14th century: 'recourse,' a turning for aid when all other options had failed. Imagine a medieval litigant, his initial appeals exhausted, making a desperate plea to a higher court—his 'resort.' Or a general, facing overwhelming odds, holding back a small, elite contingent, his 'last resort' troops for a final, decisive push. By the 15th century, 'resort' solidified as a word for refuge or ultimate support. When 'last' joined it, the phrase captured that profound moment of finality and utter necessity, the desperate gamble taken when the chips are truly down.
Examples
- After exhausting all other funding options, selling the family heirloom was truly the last resort.
- The doctor explained that surgery would be the last resort if the medication didn't improve her condition.