last but not least
A phrase used to emphasize that someone or something is still significant, despite being mentioned last in a list of people or things. And last but not least, our stalwart IT staff—this issue never would have been published without them!
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
last but not least
Cliché last in sequence, but not last in importance. (Often said when introducing people.) The speaker said, "And now, last but not least, I'd like to present Bill Smith, who will give us some final words." And last but not least, here is the final graduate.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
last but not least
Last in sequence but not least in importance, as in Last but not least, I want to thank all the people who sent me copies of my article in the paper . [Late 1500s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
last but not least
COMMON You use last but not least to say that the last person or thing to be mentioned is as important as all the others. We are pleased to welcome her four sons, Christopher, twins Daniel and Nicholas, and last but not least 2-year-old Jack. And last but not least, try to eat fresh fruit rather than desserts loaded with sugar.
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012
last but not least
last in order of mention or occurrence but not of importance.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
ˌlast but not ˈleast
, ˌlast but by no means ˈleast
used to say that the last person or thing on a list, etc. is as important as the others: He thanked everyone for their help: Mr Watkins, Ms Smith, Ms Jackson, and last, but by no means least, Mr Jones.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
last but not least
Last in a sequence but not least in importance. This expression dates from the sixteenth century, when it was used by John Lyly, who may have been its originator. “Of these three but one can stand me in steede, the last, but not the least” (Euphues and His England, 1580). Soon afterward it was used by Sir Philip Sidney, Edmund Spenser, and several times by Shakespeare (Julius Caesar, King Lear).
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer