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agli sgoccioli

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary

Italian

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Etymology

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Literally, at the last straw.

Prepositional phrase

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agli sgoccioli

  1. in small supply; about to run out
    la mia pazienza è agli sgoccioli
    my patience is running out
  2. on one's last legs
    Synonyms: al miserere, allo stremo delle forze
    • 2020, Barack Obama, chapter 6, in Chicca Galli, Paolo Lucca, Giuseppe Maugeri, transl., Una terra promessa [A Promised Land], Garzanti Libri:
      L'unico dibattito, quella settimana, si tramutò in un vero e proprio gioco al massacro tra me e Hillary, con John Edwards (la cui campagna era ormai agli sgoccioli, tanto che di lì a poco si sarebbe ritirato) ridotto al ruolo di spettatore mentre io e lei ce le suonavamo come gladiatori in un'arena.
      Our one debate that week turned into an absolute slugfest between me and Hillary, with John Edwards (whose campaign was on its last legs and who would soon drop out) rendered a spectator as Hillary and I went after each other like gladiators in the ring.
      (literally, “The only debate, that week, turned into a true game of discrediting attacks between Hillary and I, with John Edwards (whose campaign was by now on its last legs, so much so that soon after he would withdraw) reduced to the role of spectator while her and I went at it like gladiators in an arena.”)
  3. on one's last gasp
    Synonym: in fin di vita