last hurrah

USAGE SUMMARY

"last hurrah" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to refer to a final effort or celebration before a significant change or end. Example: "Before moving to a new city, she organized a last hurrah with her friends." Alternative expressions include "final fling," "last gasp," and "send-off."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

60 human-written examples

The last one was in 1989.

The Economist

His record - two cups within six months of his appointment, a domestic treble in his first full season, a second title in 2005 and reaching the last 16 of the Champions League - set the context for a rueful but masterfully understated parting comment: "I'm sure those people who look at the facts will say that during a period of downsizing, I was reasonably successful".

The Guardian - Sport

The order book was down slightly at £3.6bn from the last update in June but well ahead of the £3.3bn reported this time last year.

The Guardian - Business

Last year, during David Cameron's trip to Beijing, the same paper announced that Britain was "just an old European country apt [that is, suitable] for travel and study".

The Guardian - Opinion

Referred to in court as D, she entered a not guilty plea to a charge of intimidation last week while wearing a niqab after the judge backed down from a previous decision that she would have to show her face to be properly identified.

The Guardian

As a result, the country lost a further 21 positions in the policy evaluation compared to last year, thus replacing Canada as the worst-performing industrial country".

The Guardian

"Scoring is not up, but injuries are up," Tallon said of the current rule last week.

The New York Times

Since last July the state has opted to use just one massive dose of the sedative pentobarbital as its lethal injection, instead of a cocktail of three different drugs.

The Guardian

Last summer the Electoral Commission said 7.5 million eligible voters were not registered, with poor, black and young people least likely to be on the electoral roll.

The Guardian

The shares have underperformed the market by 6% in the last three months and now trade at a discount to the oil service peers.

The Guardian - Business

This was the second time in seven months that Hill has come close to the death chamber: last July he was spared by just 90 minutes and the experience was repeated on Tuesday night with just 30 minutes to go.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

The phrase is particularly effective in sports and political journalism to characterize a final season or campaign for a veteran figure.

Common error

Avoid using "last hurrah" to describe a tragic or purely involuntary ending. It typically implies a level of active participation or a conscious final display of skill, unlike terms like "last gasp" which suggest desperation.

Linguistic Context

As a noun phrase, "last hurrah" functions as a metaphorical idiom. It combines the adjective "last" with the interjection-derived noun "hurrah" to denote a final celebratory act. In the linguistic data provided by Ludwig, the phrase is recognized as a standard way to mark the conclusion of a career or era.

Expression frequency: Missing

Frequent in

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Less common in

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Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "last hurrah" is a vivid and effective idiomatic expression used to describe a final, often celebratory, effort or performance at the end of a career or specific period. While the specific snippet data from Ludwig focused on the word "last" in various temporal contexts, the phrase itself is a well-established fixture in English journalism. It differs from similar terms like "swan song" by emphasizing the spirit and energy of the final act rather than just the creative output. Writers should use it to add a sense of narrative closure and dignity to the conclusion of an era, ensuring they distinguish it from more negative terms like "final struggle" or "last ditch effort".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

swan song

Refers specifically to a final creative work or performance before death or retirement

final act

A more formal way to describe the concluding stage of a process or career

final bow

Uses a theatrical metaphor for a concluding appearance

closing act

A literal or metaphorical reference to the final part of a sequence

grand finale

Emphasizes the spectacular nature of a concluding event

last fling

Suggests a final period of indulgence or uninhibited activity

final flourish

Suggests an added touch of style or decoration at the end

curtain call

Focuses on the audience's acknowledgment of a final performance

parting shot

Usually refers to a final remark or action, often aggressive, made at the moment of departure

ultimate effort

Highlights the exertion rather than the celebratory aspect of the finality

FAQs

How to use "last hurrah" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a final celebratory act, such as: "The retired athlete returned for one "last hurrah" at the charity match."

What can I say instead of "last hurrah"?

Depending on your context, you can use terms like "swan song", "final performance", or "grand finale".

Is "last hurrah" formal enough for business writing?

It is generally considered a neutral idiom. In strictly formal reports, you might prefer "concluding effort" or "final initiative", but it is common in professional journalism.

What is the difference between "last hurrah" and "swan song"?

While similar, a "swan song" often refers to a creative masterpiece produced before the end, whereas "last hurrah" emphasizes the act of a final, celebratory appearance or effort.