last full measure
1
9.5
- noun
- Literature
:
último esfuerzo
- He gave his country what Abraham Lincoln once called, "The last full measure."
- last full measure of devotion
- give his last full measure
Examples
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"That from these honored dead," we take increased devotion to that cause "for which they gave the last full measure of devotion."
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All those who sacrificed as much as the last full measure—their lives—for us and those generations to come, yet for this wonderful beacon of freedom, deserve some effort from us.
Blog text (30) -
Thomas Gates gave his last full measure of devotion to his country to stop the KGC.
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"People have died in countless wars, who have, as Lincoln said in his Gettysburg Address, given the last full measure of devotion, so we can have a trial and see if the government can meet its substantial burden of proof.
Blog text (27) -
Within that corridor are the names of the over 7,000 Screaming Eagles that have given the "last full measure of devotion" since the division was activated in August 1942.
Blog text (27) -
It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task before us-- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to the cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion, that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom, and that government of the people, by the people and for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.
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"It is rather for us, the living, we here be dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that, from these honored dead, we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve these dead shall not have died in vain; that the nation shall have a new birth of freedom, that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
Blog text (7) -
THAT FROM THESE HONORED DEAD, WE TAKE INCREASED DEVOTION TO THAT CAUSE FOR WHICH THEY HERE GAVE THE LAST FULL MEASURE OF DEVOTION, THAT WE HERE HIGHLY RESOLVE THAT THESE DEAD SHALL NOT HAVE DIED IN VAIN, THAT THIS NATION, UNDER GOD, SHALL HAVE A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM, AND THAT GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE, SHALL NOT PERISH FROM THE EARTH.
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The soldiers showed their bravery by giving their last full measure to protect their country.
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In their final moments, many firefighters gave their last full measure, battling the flames to rescue others.
Synonyms
14
6.1
A final strong effort to resist a change or attack when defeat seems near
7
9.1
A very strong effort that someone makes to do something
7
6.3
A final effort before something ends or fails
The hardest effort someone can give
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
While 'last' and 'full' are transparent, 'measure' in this phrase has a literary sense of 'extent' or 'degree' rather than the common sense 'a formal action', and the jump from 'final complete extent' to 'ultimate sacrifice' is metaphorical and formulaic. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words may grasp a vague sense of 'final amount' but would probably not infer the specific meaning 'ultimate sacrifice' without prior exposure.
Etymology
The phrase last full measure comes from a famous speech where measure meant an amount of devotion. Imagine pouring your last full cup into a task — you have given everything with nothing left, so the phrase means 'the utmost effort' or 'ultimate sacrifice'.