last man standing

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR C1

Post

Figurative meaning

the only survivor of a fight, consolidation, or market shakeout

Why this phrase?

From duels and shootouts: whoever is left standing wins.

Example

“Consolidation hit the category hard; a single last man standing is emerging.”

Dictionary details

Component words

last stand

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

every last Neutral · CEFR B1

all members or items in a group, with no exceptions at all

famous last words Neutral · CEFR B2

a confident prediction or claim that events soon prove completely wrong

have the last laugh Neutral · CEFR B2

To succeed in the end after others have mocked, doubted, or opposed you.

stand up and be counted Neutral · CEFR B2

to declare one's position publicly when doing so calls for courage or principle

back against the wall Informal · CEFR B1

in a desperate situation with few options left

give someone a run for their money Neutral · CEFR B1

to compete nearly as well as a much stronger opponent, forcing them to work hard for victory

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

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