come to a bad end

come to a bad end

1. To suffer an unpleasant death. The poor victims in that bus accident came to a bad end. The serial purse snatcher came to a bad end when he encountered a little old lady trained in karate. You will come to a bad end if you don't change your reckless ways.

2. To reach an unpleasant or problematic final state. My cell phone came to a bad end when I accidentally ran it over with my car. You'll come to a bad end if you keep ignoring your studies. A: "Wait, he doesn't meticulously monitor his company's finances?" B: "No! It's like he wants the business to come to a bad end or something."

See also: bad, come, end, to

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

come to a bad end

Fig. to have a disaster, perhaps one that is deserved or expected; to die an unfortunate death. My old car came to a bad end. Its engine seized up. The dishonest merchant came to a bad end.

See also: bad, come, end, to

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

come to a bad/sticky ˈend

(informal) finish in an unpleasant way; finish by having something unpleasant happen to you, usually because of your own actions: The neighbours used to shake their heads at his behaviour and say that he’d come to a bad end.

See also: bad, come, end, sticky, to

Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017