end to end

1. Placed in a row, such that the ends of each item are touching. If you laid out all her books end to end, I bet you they would stretch all the way down the street! Those tiles need to be positioned end to end with these ones, that's how the pattern is formed. No, move those picture frames closer together—they need to be end to end with each other.

2. From the very beginning to the very end of something. That film was excellent end to end! His whole speech was nothing but ridiculous lies end to end. That team really dominated end to end—their opponent was totally overwhelmed.

3. From one end of something, such as a field or rink, to the other. The skilled player ran the ball end to end down the field. The whistle was a welcome sound for the defensemen, as it gave them time to catch their breath after that wild end-to-end play. How fast can you skate end to end?

See also: end, to

end to end

1. In a row with the ends touching. For example, The logs were laid end to end. [Mid-1800s]

2. from end to end. Throughout the length of something, as in We hiked the Appalachian Trail from end to end. [First half of 1600s]

See also: end, 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.

end to end

COMMON If things are end to end, they are in a row with their ends touching each other. The ship's deck was large enough to fit three football fields end to end. Placed end to end this is enough cans to go round the world more than 6 times.

See also: end, to

ˌend to ˈend

in a line, with the ends touching: They arranged the tables end to end.

See also: end, to

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