If you're down to your last out, concentrate.
Idiom: down to (one's) last out
Definition
To have only one chance left. This idiom comes from baseball, but the phrase is often used figuratively outside of baseball.
→ You’ve already gotten a bad grade on most of your tests; you’re down to your last out in class.
Notes
This idiom comes from baseball, where games are divided into nine innings. In each inning, both teams have a chance to bat, and each chance at bat ends with three outs. If a team has two outs, it is down to only one final out.
Down to is used to say what is left, as in "I'm down to my last hundred dollars. I'll run out of money soon."
Level
This phrase, down to (one's) last out, is advanced-level vocabulary. It is common in business English and everyday conversation—as well as in baseball.
Idioms: Idioms are phrases whose meaning is not clear from the words in them. Idioms come from many sources. This is a sports idiom from baseball, a phrase that is now used figuratively outside of baseball. It is an example of the many popular, colorful idioms that come from the sport. Check out the book English for Baseball for more vocabulary from the sport. Or for general sports idioms, check out English Idioms 2: Sports—Hit a Home Run.
Learn more idioms at the Targets in English Lessons page. You can also find Targets in English on Twitter and the web.
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