beginning

beginning of the end

Fig. the start of the termination of something or of someone's death. When he stopped coughing and grew still, I knew it was the beginning of the end. The enormous debt we ran up marked the beginning of the end as far as our standard of living was concerned.

See also: end

on the verge (of doing something) and on the verge of something

at the very beginning of doing something; just about to do something. Bill was on the verge of leaving town when he found a job. Susan was on the verge of laughter, so she left the lecture hall.

See also: verge

---

the beginning of the end

the time at which it becomes clear that a situation or process will end, although it does not end immediately (often + for ) The ban on tobacco advertising may be the beginning of the end for the cigarette companies.

See also: end

---

the beginning of the end

the first part of a process that will finish something Several brilliant plays marked the beginning of the end for the challengers.

See also: end