Meaning & use
last hurrah
Last updated
Meaning
nounsingularfigurative
A final effort, performance or celebration before someone stops doing something, such as retiring or leaving a team.
Grammar: Usually appears with a possessive or the: it was her last hurrah.
Patterns
- someone's last hurrah
- a last hurrah for someone
The tour was the band's last hurrah before they split up.
Next week's match will be the veteran striker's last hurrah.
They planned a trip to Italy as a last hurrah before the baby arrived.
Common combinations
- one last hurrah
- The old friends took one last hurrah at their favorite cafe.
- a final last hurrah
- The final summer was a last hurrah for the whole team.
- enjoy a last hurrah
- They planned to enjoy a last hurrah before graduation.
- stage a last hurrah
- The retiring coach staged a last hurrah at the championship.
- someone's last hurrah
- The festival was the mayor's last hurrah in office.
Synonyms and how they differ
- swan song
- Swan song is more serious and means a final performance by an artist, whereas last hurrah can sound lighter and covers any farewell effort.
- final fling
- Final fling stresses a burst of fun before responsibilities start, while last hurrah can be more about achievement.
- farewell
- Farewell is a plain word for a goodbye and carries no idea of one final push.
- curtain call
- A curtain call is literally the bow at the end of a show, so it fits performances better.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: last hurrah or swan song?
last hurrah vs swan song
A swan song is a final work or performance by an artist, while a last hurrah can be any farewell burst of activity.
Practice
The retiring coach said the tournament would be his ___ before he left.
Choose one answer.
Last hurrah means a final effort before stopping. Debut and fresh start suggest beginnings, which contradicts retiring.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “last hurrah”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.