die in a ditch—die destitute in dire poverty:
- He who abstains from whisky will never die in a ditch.
die in the last ditch—fight desperately defending smth. to the last:
- I can be sure never to see my country’s ruin: I will die in the last ditch.
Cf.: last-ditch effort—a desperate final attempt:
- He is negotiating with prosecutors in a last-ditch effort to avert trial.