Desperate stand by dump (4-5)
I believe the answer is:
last-ditch
'desperate' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'stand by dump' is the wordplay.
'stand' becomes 'last' (both can mean to endure or survive something).
'by' says to put letters next to each other.
'dump' becomes 'ditch' (both can mean to discard).
'last'+'ditch'='LAST-DITCH'
(Other definitions for last-ditch that I've seen before include "Of an attempt or stand, final and desperate" , "Eleventh-hour" , "Eleventh hour" , "Denoting final attempt (to do something)" , "Final recourse" .)