the worst, esp something that goes beyond the limits of endurance
b. mainly US
the best in quality
See full dictionary entry for end
the end in American English
the ultimate; the utmost of good or bad
His stupidity is the end
See full dictionary entry for end
Examples of 'the end' in a sentence
the end
The recalled midfielder appears to be open to the idea of extending his current deal beyond the end of the season, although talks are yet to begin.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Our idyll was not to last more than a few minutes beyond the end of that conversation.
Baxter, Stephen Anti-Ice (1993)
And whether or not he accepts that fact will be crucial to determining if he stays beyond the end of the season.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It can get to the stage where they can't see beyond the end of their noses.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
This was not the best outcome for the veteran who continues to seek a commitment from the team about his future beyond the end of the season.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
All related terms of 'the end'
in the end
You say in the end when you are saying what is the final result of a series of events , or what is your final conclusion after considering all the relevant facts .
the East End
a densely populated part of E London containing former industrial and dock areas, now extensively redeveloped for offices
the Top End
the northern part of the Northern Territory
the West End
a part of W central London containing the main shopping and entertainment areas
at the sharp end
If you say that someone is at the sharp end of a particular activity or type of work, you mean that they are involved in the most difficult or dangerous aspects of it.
end the conflict
Conflict is fighting between countries or groups of people.
the end of the road
If a process or person has reached the end of the road , they are unable to progress any further.
to the bitter end
If you say that you will continue doing something to the bitter end , especially something difficult or unpleasant, you are emphasizing that you will continue doing it until it is completely finished.
at the end of the day
You say at the end of the day when you are talking about what happens after a long series of events or what appears to be the case after you have considered the relevant facts .
the end of the rainbow
If you say that something is at the end of the rainbow , you mean that people want it but it is almost impossible to obtain or achieve.
go off the deep end
If you say that someone has gone off the deep end , you mean that their mind has stopped working in a normal way and their behaviour has become very strange as a result.
the bitter/very end
If you do something to the bitter end or to the very end , you continue to do it for as long as you can, although it may be very unpleasant or dangerous .
be on the receiving end
to be the recipient of a gift , or favor
the end of one's rope
the end of one's endurance , resources , etc.
the end of your tether
If you say that you are at the end of your tether , you mean that you are so worried , tired , and unhappy because of your problems that you feel you cannot cope .
thin end of the wedge
anything unimportant in itself that implies the start of something much larger
wrong end of the stick
a complete misunderstanding of a situation , explanation , etc
the short end of the stick
the worst of a deal
the thin end of the wedge
If you say that something is the thin end of the wedge , you mean that it appears to be unimportant at the moment , but that it is the beginning of a bigger , more harmful development.
not be the end of the world
If you say that something bad is not the end of the world , you are trying to stop yourself or someone else being so upset by it, by suggesting that it is not the worst thing that could happen .
at the end of one's tether
distressed or exasperated to the limit of one's endurance
at the end of your rope
feeling desperate because you are in a difficult situation and do not know how to deal with it. The usual British expression is at the end of your tether .
at the end of your tether
feeling desperate because you are in a difficult situation and you do not know how to deal with it. The usual American expression is at the end of your rope .
to go off the deep end
to lose your temper ; react angrily
get the short end of the stick
to end up in a worse position than other people in a particular situation , although this is not your fault
get the wrong end of the stick
to completely misunderstand something
it's not the end of the world
said to mean that the consequences of an event are not as bad as they might seem at first
light at the end of the tunnel
When you talk about the light at the end of the tunnel , you are referring to the end of the difficult or unpleasant situation that you are in at the moment .
be thrown in at the deep end
to start by doing the most difficult part of a job or task , before you have tried to do the easier parts, or to start a job or task without any preparation
do something to the bitter end
to continue doing something in a determined way and finish it, even though this becomes increasingly difficult
not the be-all and end-all
not the only thing that is important in a particular situation
on the wrong end of something
unsuccessful in an activity or situation or at some disadvantage because of it
the light at the end of the tunnel
something which gives you hope about the future and for the end of a difficult or unpleasant situation
the be-all and end-all of sth
If something is the be-all and end-all to you, it is the only important thing in your life , or the only important feature of a particular activity .
throw someone in at the deep end
to put someone into a new situation , job , etc, without preparation or introduction
until the end of time to the end of time
If you say that something will happen or be true until the end of time or to the end of time , you are emphasizing that it will always happen or always be true.
the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow
something that will be very difficult to achieve in reality , although you dream of getting it
to be thrown in at the deep end
to be put into a situation without preparation or introduction
to be on the receiving end at the receiving end
If you are on the receiving end or at the receiving end of something unpleasant , you are the person that it happens to.
that's the end of the matter/that's an end to the matter
If someone says that's the end of the matter or that's an end to the matter , they mean that a decision that has been taken must not be changed or discussed any more.
in at the deep end to throw someone in at the deep end jump in at the deep end
If you are thrown in at the deep end , you are put in a completely new situation without any help or preparation . If you jump in at the deep end , you go into a completely new situation without any help or preparation.
to get the wrong end of the stick to get hold of the wrong end of the stick
If someone gets the wrong end of the stick or gets hold of the wrong end of the stick , they do not understand something correctly and get the wrong idea about it.
not see beyond your nose
to think only about yourself and your immediate needs , rather than about other people or wider and longer-term issues