last
adjective, adverb, pronoun, noun uk/lɑːst/ us/læst/
A2 最终的;最后的
(the person or thing) after everyone or everything else
[ + to infinitive ] I hate being the last one to arrive at a meeting. 我不愿意开会时最后一个到。
Our house is the last one on the left before the traffic lights. 我们家是交通信号灯前左侧的最后一家。
The Mets will surely finish the season in last place (= at the lowest rank of their division). 梅茨队本赛季肯定要垫底了。
I know Johnson finished last in the race, but who was second to last (= the one before the one at the end)? 我知道约翰逊在比赛中倒数第一，但谁是倒数第二呢？
I don't know why he bothers to bet - his horses always come in last. 我不明白他为什么还要去下注——他选的马总是落在最后面。
At the last moment (= as late as possible) he changed his mind. 在最后一刻他改了主意。
He always leaves important decisions to the last (possible) moment (= as late as possible). 在重大问题上他总要拖到最后一刻才作决定。
at (long) lastB1 终于，最终
finally
I've finished my essay at last! 我终于把论文写完了！
At long last the government is starting to listen to our problems. 政府最后终于开始关注我们的问题了。
At last we arrived at the hotel and were taken to our rooms.
In the countryside she found herself freed at last from the anxiety that had plagued her in the city.
He has agreed, at long last, to give his version of events.
the last person, thing, etc.B2 最让人想不到的人／事；最不想见的人／最不愿干的事
the least expected or wanted person or thing
Three extra people to feed - that's the last thing I need! 再多养活3口人——我可受不了！
The last thing I wanted was to make you unhappy. 我最不愿见到的就是惹你不开心。
Matthew is the last person I'd expect to be interested in dance. 我认为马修是最不喜欢跳舞的人。
He's the last person I'd trust with my keys. 我最不放心把钥匙托付给他了。
That's the last place I'd go if I needed medical help.
The last thing you should do if you're feeling sleepy is drive.
last thing (at night) mainly UK 在一天的最后
at the latest time in the day
I'll switch on the washing machine last thing so it'll be finished when I get up in the morning. 晚上睡觉前我会开启洗衣机，这样等我早晨起床后衣服就洗好了。
You should avoid drinking coffee last thing at night.
I do my exercises first thing in the morning and last thing at night.
He usually calls me last thing, just before he goes to bed.
It's not a great idea to have difficult conversations last thing.
the last time 最后一次
If you say that it is the last time you will do something, you mean that you will never do it again.
He never even thanked me, so that's the last time I do him a favour. 他甚至从未向我表示过感谢，所以那是我最后一次帮他。
That's the last time we're inviting our neighbours to a party - they didn't talk to anyone!
It's the last time I'm going to that restaurant. The food was terrible.
She decided that was the last time she'd lend him money.
I can't believe you let them criticize me like that. It's the last time I'm standing up for you, I can tell you.
- More examples
- My last class ends at four o'clock.
- The doctors made one last desperate attempt to save the boy's life.
- Ruth Ellis was the last woman to be hanged in Britain.
- He was the last person to see the woman alive, and suspicion immediately fell on him.
- I didn't manage to write down that last bit she said, about the meeting.
Idioms
have the last laughidiom 笑到最后，取得最后的胜利
to finally get an advantage from an argument or disagreement, when it seemed that you would not
last but not leastidiom B2 最后但同样重要的
importantly, despite being mentioned after everyone else
I would like to thank my publisher, my editor, and, last but not least, my husband. 我要感谢出版商、编辑，最后同样要感谢我的丈夫。
the last but oneidiom (US also the next to last) 倒数第二
the one before the final one
I'm almost finished - this is the last but one box to empty. 我马上就要完工了——现在还有最后两个箱子要清空。
the last someone heard/saw of someone/somethingidiom C2 最后一次听到有关（某人或某事）的任何消息；最后一次见到他／她／它
the last time someone heard anything about someone or something or the last time someone saw him, her, or it
Then he went to Boston, and that was the last I saw of him. 然后他就去了波士顿，那是我最后一次见到他。
the last minuteidiom （做某事的）最后的机会
the latest possible opportunity for doing something
He always leaves his homework until the last minute. 他总是把课后作业留到最后一刻做。
At the last minute, we found our tickets. 在最后一刻我们找到了门票。
the last word in somethingidiom （某物）最好的的例子；最现代的例子
the best or most modern example of something
In the 1990s these shoes were considered the last word in style. 在1990年代这些鞋子的风格被认为是最好的。
to the lastidiom formal 直到最后一刻
until something is complete or has been achieved
I think my position is right, and I'll defend it to the last. 我认为自己的立场没有错，我会坚持到底。
直到死亡
until the end of someone's life
She was a true patriot to the last. 她自始至终都是一位真正的爱国者。
(down) to the last ...idiom （用于强调所说的话）包括一切，包括全部
including all of the thing mentioned, used to emphasize what you are saying
The model of the village is accurate down to the last detail. 这个村庄的模型精确到了每个细节。
He has calculated the costs down to the last penny. 他把每一便士的费用都计算在内了。
to the last (man)idiom 直到最后（一个人）
until every person is dead
Both sides have declared themselves ready to fight to the last man. 双方都声称要战斗到底，直到最后一个人。
last
adjective [ before noun ], pronoun, noun [ U ] uk/lɑːst/ us/læst/
B1 最后的，最末的;最后的一个（或一部分）
(being) the only one or part that is left
Do you mind if I have the last chocolate? 你介意我把最后一块巧克力吃了吗？
I'm down to my last dollar - could I borrow some money for lunch? 我只剩最后一美元了——我能借点钱吃午饭吗？
I'm afraid Martha's eaten the last of the ice cream. 恐怕玛莎已经把最后一块冰激凌吃掉了。
She was the last of the great educational reformers. 她是唯一健在的伟大的教育改革家。
- More examples
- You got the last ticket - damn you, I wanted that!
- Today's my last full day in Paris.
- Go steady on the milk, Dan - that's our last bottle.
- I finally surrendered to temptation, and ate the last remaining chocolate.
- That's the last time I'm going to look after her kids - I'll be glad when the little demons go home.
Idioms
as a last resortidiom (UK also in the last resort) 作为最后一招，在万不得已的时候
if all other methods fail
British police are supposed to use guns only as a last resort. 英国警方只有在万不得已的时候才能开枪。
hear/see the last of somethingidiom informal 从此不再听／看到;到此为止，就此了断
If you hear or see the last of something or someone unpleasant or difficult, that person or thing does not cause you trouble again.
I paid them $100 for the damage and I hope that's the last I'll hear of it. 我赔了他们100美元，希望从此能彻底了断这个事情。
You haven't heard the last of this! - I'll see you in court. 你的这件事还没完！——咱们法庭上见。
He's horrible - I really hope we've seen the last of him. 他太讨人厌了——我真的希望我们从此能不再和他打交道了。
on your last legsidiom informal 快累死了;奄奄一息了
A person who is on their last legs is very tired or near to death.
We'd been out walking all day and I was on my last legs when we reached the hotel. 我们出去走了整整一天，到达旅馆时我都快累死了。
It looks as though her grandfather's on his last legs. 她爷爷看起来快不行了。
on its last legsidiom informal 快用坏了，快用到头了
Something that is on its last legs is in such bad condition that it will soon be unable to work as it should.
I've had this laptop for five years now, and it's really on its last legs. 这个笔记本电脑我已经用了5年了，现在的确是快要报废了。
last
adjective, adverb, pronoun uk/lɑːst/ us/læst/
A1 上一次的;最近的;最后的
(being) the most recent or the one before the present one
Did you hear the storm last night (= during the previous night)? 你听到昨晚的暴风雨声了吗？
Did you see the news on TV last night (= yesterday evening)? 昨晚那条电视新闻你看了吗？
They got married last November. 去年11月他们结婚了。
When was the last time you had a cigarette? 你上一次吸烟是在什么时候？
When did you last have a cigarette? 你最后一次吸烟是在什么时候？
She's been working there for the last month (= for the four weeks until now). 上个月起她一直在那里工作。
formal Could you account for your whereabouts on Sunday last? 你能说说上个星期天你都去什么地方了吗？
The/These last five years have been very difficult for him. 过去的5年他过得非常艰难。
The last we heard of her, she was working as an English teacher in France. 上一次我们听到她的消息，她是在法国当英语教师。
Each of her paintings has been better than the last. 她的油画作品一幅比一幅有进步。
- More examples
- Most of the diseased trees were chopped down last year.
- Did you vote Conservative at the last election?
- Who was she dancing with at the party last night?
- In their last encounter with Italy, England won 3-2.
- "Have you always lived here?" "As a matter of fact I've only lived here for the last three years".
Idiom
the week/month/year before lastidiom B2 上上周／上上个月／前年
during the week/month/year before the previous one
We had lunch together the week before last. 上上周我们一起吃过午饭。
last
verb [ I, L only + noun ] uk/lɑːst/ us/læst/
B1 持续，延续，继续
to continue to exist
The meeting lasted two hours. 会议持续了两个小时。
The drought lasted for several months. 干旱持续了好几个月。
They say the snow will last until the end of next week. 他们说这场雪要一直下到下周末。
I can't see the ceasefire lasting. 我认为停火不会持续下去。
They haven't had an argument for two weeks, but it's too good to last (= they'll have an argument soon). 他们已经两周没吵架了，但这种状态恐怕持续不了多久。
I doubt their enthusiasm will last. 我怀疑他们只是一时的心血来潮。
He's working very efficiently at the moment, but it won't last. 目前他的工作效率很高，但不会持续很久。
C1 维持，保持
to continue being good or suitable
There's no point buying something that isn't going to last. 买些不耐用的东西根本毫无意义。
The cheaper washing machines should last about five years. 比较便宜的洗衣机大约可以使用5年。
This pen should last (you) a lifetime if you take care of it. 如果注意爱护，这支钢笔可以用上一辈子。
Her previous secretary only lasted a month (= left after this period). 她的前任秘书只干了1个月。
- More examples
- The exam lasted an hour and a half.
- The relationship was never going to work, but it was fun while it lasted.
- The election broadcast, a nine-hour marathon, lasts until seven o'clock in the morning.
- Apparently this good weather isn't going to last until the weekend.
- Who can predict how long this uneasy peace between the two countries will last?
Idiom
not last longidiom (UK also not last five minutes) 快失败了；长不了
to fail or be unsuccessful very soon
You won't last long in your job if you carry on being so rude to the customers. 如果你继续这样粗暴地对待顾客，那么你这份工作就快干到头了。
He wouldn't last five minutes in the police force - it's far too tough for him. 他在警察队伍里呆不了多久——他受不了那份苦。
Phrasal verb
last out 维持生存，设法活下来
to manage to stay alive
How long can they last out without food? 没有食物他们能活多久？
He won't last out the night. 他活不过今天晚上。