bring (something) to a successful conclusion

To complete something with a positive or favorable outcome. Although we struggled to finish the presentation on time, we were able to bring it to a successful conclusion. Stop focusing so much on these nitpicky edits and just try to bring your thesis to a successful conclusion. I never had much faith in Pete as a leader, so I'm shocked he was able to bring the merger to a successful conclusion.

See also: bring, conclusion, successful, to

come to a/the conclusion

1. To make a determination about someone or something. The jury came to the conclusion that the defendant is guilty. We've been turning over the evidence for nearly three days, and we're still no closer to coming a conclusion! After spending the last few nights thinking about what you said, I've come to the conclusion that I need to make some drastic changes in my life.

2. To reach an end point. If there are no other issues to discuss, then this meeting can come to a conclusion. That play's lengthy run on Broadway comes to a conclusion tonight. The graduation ceremony came to a conclusion with a few final remarks from the principal.

foregone conclusion

1. An inevitable result. After how poorly the team has played so far this season, it's a foregone conclusion that they won't make it to the championship. It seem like a foregone conclusion that the Kings would win, but then the Sharks scored three goals in the last 10 minutes of the game to tie it. A: "Come on, it's a foregone conclusion that FlemCorp will continue to control the smartphone market." B: "I don't know. This new manufacturer, Smapple, could make things interesting."

2. A view or belief that one has before receiving all pertinent information. Don't come to any foregone conclusions about the accident, all right? Let me tell you the whole story first. I know you found some suspicious things in her office, but don't jump to foregone conclusions—talk to her first. It's easy to read a lot into the secret email exchanges, but we shouldn't make foregone conclusions—there could be a perfectly reasonable explanation.

in conclusion

In summary; as the final, concluding point. In conclusion, if we do not address this issue now, it will become insurmountable in a few years' time. In conclusion, I'm quitting. In conclusion, we cannot continue our valuable medical research without increased funding from the university.

jump to conclusions

To make decisions or form opinions before one has all the pertinent facts. I know you found some suspicious things in her office, but don't jump to conclusions—talk to her first.

See also: conclusion, jump, to

leap to conclusions

To make decisions or form opinions before one has all the pertinent facts. I know you found some suspicious things in her office, but don't leap to conclusions—talk to her first and see if she has a reasonable explanation. You're always leaping to conclusions whenever I make the slightest criticism of our relationship!

reach a conclusion

To achieve some conclusion, especially after a period of deliberation, discussion, debate, etc. We've been turning over the evidence for nearly three days, and we're still no closer to reaching any conclusions! After spending the last few nights thinking about what you said, I've come to the conclusion that I need to make some drastic changes in my life.

rush to conclusions

To draw conclusions, make decisions, or form opinions before one has all the pertinent facts. I know you found some suspicious things in her office, but don't rush to conclusions—talk to her first. I must apologize for rushing to conclusions earlier. I should have given you the benefit of the doubt.

try conclusions with (someone)

old-fashioned To engage someone in a battle or contest. She quickly proved to be an exceptionally talented wrestler, willing to try a fall with anyone from the surrounding areas. It has become clear following their decision to support this horrible agenda that the government dare not try conclusions with our neighbors up north.

bring something to a successful conclusion

to complete something successfully. They brought the battle to a successful conclusion. The case was brought to a successful conclusion by the prosecutor.

See also: bring, conclusion, successful, to

come to a conclusion

1. to reach a decision. We talked for a long time but never came to any conclusion. Can we come to a conclusion today, or do we have to meet again?

2. [for a process] to reach the end and be finished. At last, the yearlong ordeal of buying a house came to a conclusion. I was afraid that the opera would never come to a conclusion.

foregone conclusion

Cliché a conclusion already reached; an inevitable result. That the company was moving to California was a foregone conclusion. That the mayor will win reelection is a foregone conclusion.

jump to conclusions

and leap to conclusions

Fig. to judge or decide something without having all the facts; to reach unwarranted conclusions. (See also rush to conclusions.) Now don't jump to conclusions. Wait until you hear what I have to say. Please find out all the facts so you won't leap to conclusions.

See also: conclusion, jump, to

reach a conclusion

to complete discussion and decide an issue. It took three days of talks to reach a conclusion. When we reach a conclusion, we will notify you of the results.

rush to conclusions

to try to reach a conclusion too fast, probably with insufficient evidence; to jump to conclusions. I hope that you don't rush to any conclusions. I can explain this. I'm afraid you are rushing to conclusions when you speak of canceling the performance.

foregone conclusion, a

1. An outcome regarded as inevitable, as in The victory was a foregone conclusion.

2. A conclusion formed in advance of argument or consideration, as in The jury was warned to consider all of the evidence and not base their decision on a foregone conclusion . This idiom probably was invented by Shakespeare ( Othello, 3:3) but scholars are not agreed as to his precise meaning. [c. 1600]

jump to a conclusion

Form an opinion or judgment hastily, as in Wait till you have the facts; don't jump to a conclusion. [c. 1700]

See also: conclusion, jump, to

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.

jump to conclusions

COMMON If someone jumps to conclusions, they decide too quickly that something is true, when they do not know all the facts. Forgive me. I shouldn't be jumping to conclusions. Note: You can also say that someone jumps to a conclusion. I didn't want her to jump to the conclusion that the divorce was in any way her fault. Note: People sometimes use leap instead of jump. The medical establishment was careful not to leap to conclusions.

See also: conclusion, jump, to

try conclusions with

engage in a trial of skill or argument with. formal

1902 G. S. Whitmore The Last Maori War in New Zealand Te Kooti 's prestige enormously increased by an apparent unwillingness to try conclusions with him, even with an immensely superior force and in the open plains.

jump (or leap) to conclusions (or the conclusion that)

form an opinion hastily, before you have learned or considered all the facts.

See also: conclusion, jump, to

jump/leap to conˈclusions

make a decision about somebody/something too quickly, before you know or have thought about all the facts: There you go again — jumping to conclusions. Wait till you hear my side of the story!

a ˌforegone conˈclusion

a result that is certain to happen: It’s a foregone conclusion that Spain will win tonight’s match.

foregone conclusion, a

A result that is already known and therefore is taken for granted. The term comes from Shakespeare’s Othello (3.3), in which, after hearing Iago’s lie about Cassio talking in his sleep of his love affair with Desdemona, Othello says this “dream” is a “foregone conclusion”—that is, it clearly denotes that his wife has been unfaithful to him with Cassio (as Iago intended him to believe all along). Some four centuries later the term is still around: “But it could be argued that it was a surprise so many Spaniards were prepared to take part in a vote which was a foregone conclusion” (Economist, Feb. 26, 2005).

jump to conclusions, to

To draw inferences too hastily from insufficient evidence. Also put in the singular (to jump to a conclusion), this cliché dates from about 1700.