ENGLISH
REFERENCE

last full measure

idiom

A person's life, when lost through death in service to a nation or cause, particularly as a member of a military force in war or a semi-militarized organization such as a police force or civil defense corps, e.g. fire departments. May also be applied to some dangerous government and civil occupations such as espionage.


Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    breathe one's last

    To die.

  2. 02

    cobbler, keep to your last

    One should not criticise matters outside one's field of expertise; one should mind one's business.

  3. 03

    come full circle

    To make a complete change or reform.

  4. 04

    dead last

    Finishing in last place in a competition or ranking, often by a considerable margin to the next to last place finisher or after an exceptionally poor showing or season.

  5. 05

    draw one's last breath

    To die.

  6. 06

    every last

    every; without exception (used for emphasis).

  7. 07

    fall at the last hurdle

    To fail near the end of an activity, a project, etc.

  8. 08

    few cards shy of a full deck

    Mentally deranged; demented; insane.

© 2026 English Reference