“Last man standing” refers to a situation where only one person remains in a competition or contest. Its origins are unclear, but it has been used in various contexts, including military drills, spelling bees, and tontines. It can refer to the winner of a contest or the last person pursuing a goal. The phrase is popular in pop culture and has been used in movies, TV shows, music albums, books, and video games.
The saying “last man standing” refers to a competition, contest, or other situation in which the field of entrants narrows down until only a single individual remains. The term can be applied to a wide variety of circumstances, from golf to art to eating competitions. It also appears frequently in movies, books, songs, and other types of pop culture. Occasionally, the term may be used to describe a winning pair or team rather than an individual.
The precise origins of the term are unclear. Some believe that last man standing originally applied to the last boxer to stand during a match. Others cite him as referring to the last military cadet to continue on a drill when everyone else had fallen from exhaustion. Still others argue that the term comes from old-fashioned spelling bees, in which contestants were asked to sit down after misspelling a word, or from dance competitions, in which individuals or couples gave up or were judged “out” and they asked to sit down. Other suggested origins include the ancient battles of Sparta, wrestling matches and electoral proceedings.
Perhaps the most macabre use of the term is in relation to a tontine, an arrangement in which a number of people collectively own something of value, often land. Interest in a tontine cannot be transferred to another subject, so the last man standing, in this case the last man alive, inherits the entire interest. Throughout history, tontines have been demonstrably dangerous investments.
Today the term is used in a number of situations. Last man standing can refer to the winner in a given contest or competition, whether or not an actual position is involved. The winner of such contests may have come to success through skill, endurance, strength, or any other means. It can also refer to the victorious side in a military or civilian battle, or the winner of a sports tournament. It can also refer to the last person who continues pursuing a goal or objective after all other parties have given up.
The phrase’s popularity is evident from the frequency of its use in pop culture. It’s the title of an action movie, two television shows, and at least four music albums. It is also the title of several books, and is the commonly used name for a cooperative first-person shooter video game mode in which all players operate independently with the goal of being the last player standing.
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