a good beginning makes a good ending
Being well-prepared and focused at the start of something often leads to success. Keeping in mind that a good beginning makes a good ending, I worked really hard on my outline before I began my research paper. You can't just jump into writing the middle of the plot! Come on, a good beginning makes a good ending. I always find that I have a productive year when I make and stick to New Year's resolutions. I guess it's true what they say—a good beginning makes a good ending.
a storybook ending
A perfectly ideal ending or resolution (to something) that is or seems fantastical, as if it had been written for a fairy tale or children's story. The championship victory is a storybook ending for a team that just last year was ranked last in their league. Unfortunately, storybook endings aren't guaranteed in the real world, and our own love story ended in heartbreak. The beautiful wedding ceremony was a storybook ending to their courtship. Now, they start their lives as husband and wife.
dead end
1. noun The end of a road, path, or other passage that does not have an exit or other passages attached to it. I knew my GPS was wrong when it told me to turn onto a road that came to a dead end. We've come to a dead end. We'll have to turn around and take that side road. Are you sure this is where the directions said to go? Because it sure looks like we've reached a dead end.
2. noun By extension, a situation in which no more progress or advancement is possible. I'm afraid we've come to a dead end in our investigation. My research has come to a dead end—every experiment I've tried so far has failed. How are you going to continue to progress in your current job? Sounds to me like you've hit a dead end.
3. adjective Prohibitive of or offering no possibility for progress or advancement. Sometimes hyphenated. Jerry decided he couldn't spend another minute working at that dead end job with no possibility for a promotion. The police received a lot of dead-end leads, but nothing that led them to the killer. How long are you gonna stay in this dead-end relationship? He's never gonna propose to you, honey!
4. verb To end in a way that prevents any possibility of further progress or advancement. Often hyphenated. This street dead-ends up ahead, so we'll have to turn around. I thought this internship would lead to a full-time position in the company, but things have really dead-ended. Unfortunately, our relationship dead-ended when I realized I didn't want to live with him.
end in (something)
To culminate in something; to have something as the final part or element. Opening night ended in disaster when the lead actress forgot her lines. As usual, our family dinner ended in a big argument, and everyone went home angry. I'm looking for a seven-letter word that ends in E.
end in smoke
To result in no tangible or appreciable difference; to culminate in failure. The company's efforts to break into the smartphone market ended in smoke, and they quietly discontinued the service after a year. For all the optimism at the outset of the negotiations, they seem to have ended in smoke. I haven't heard much about that proposed merger from a while back. It must have ended in smoke.
end it (all)
To kill oneself. If they diagnose me with a terminal illness, I'd rather end it all now, instead of suffering. Poor Dave is just too intense about his schoolwork. He's ready to end it all if he gets a B+! This is the message to all the young people who are thinking of trying to escape the pain by just ending it: it gets better.
end it all
To kill oneself; to end one's life. I was in a dark place, ready to end it all, when I met a friend who helped get me back on my feet. If they diagnose me with a terminal illness, I'd rather end it all now, instead of suffering. Poor Dave is just too intense about his schoolwork. He's ready to end it all if he gets a B+!
end on a positive note
To conclude (something) at some desirable or successful point or with some pleasant piece of news. A noun or pronoun can be used between "end" and "on." I know we've had quite a few disappointments, but let's win this last game and end the season on a positive note! The CEO's speech at the Annual General Meeting ended on quite a positive note when he announced that there would be a company-wide bonus at the end of the year. No, I didn't win the prestigious award, but just being nominated allowed me to end my academic career on a positive note.
end on a sour note
To conclude (something) with some particularly unfortunate, unpleasant, or disagreeable piece of news, information, or conversation. The firing of our head coach really ended our football season on a sour note. The CEO's speech at the Annual General Meeting ended on quite a sour note when he announced that there would be company-wide pay cuts and layoffs. Despite my hard work all year, I wasn't nominated for any awards, so my academic career ended on a fairly sour note.
end up
1. To reach some conclusion, state, or situation due to a particular course of action. Thanks to that traffic jam, I ended up being late to the meeting. Sara has always loved to read so I'm not surprised that she ended up an English major. I really think that you and your high school sweetheart will end up together.
2. To take some course of action, perhaps reluctantly. Thanks to bad weather, we ended up leaving our beach house ahead of schedule. My date got sick, so I ended up going to the prom with my neighbor. I ended up having to write the whole thing out by hand after my computer died.
3. To conclude something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "end" and "up." Well, I'd say that big fight pretty much ends up our family dinner. While graduation ends up the high school experience for most seniors, there are always an unlucky few who have to stay behind an extra year. A win tonight would end this playoff series up and allow the home team to move on to the next round.
4. To reach a particular location, often unintentionally. We wanted to go to the beach on Saturday, but because traffic was so bad, we ended up at the mall instead. When my car's engine overheated, I ended up at the mechanic instead of my big job interview. I thought you guys were going grocery shopping. How exactly did you end up at the park?
5. To be with someone, often by default. It seems that we've ended up with the most boring tour guide on the planet. He's seriously putting me to sleep. If you don't start dating more serious guys, you're going to end up with a doofus. A: "How exactly did you end up stuck in an elevator with your ex-boyfriend?" B: "Not by choice, I can tell you that!"
end up (by) (doing something)
1. To take some course of action, perhaps reluctantly. Thanks to bad weather, we ended up by leaving our beach house ahead of schedule. My date got sick, so I ended up by going to the prom with my neighbor. I ended up having to write the whole thing out by hand after my computer died.
2. To conclude something with a particular action. Well, as usual, our family ended up by having a big fight after Thanksgiving dinner. While most high school seniors end up by graduating, there are always an unlucky few who have to stay behind an extra year. A win tonight would end up this playoff series and allow the home team to move on to the next round.
end up as (something)
To conclude something in a particular state or role. I really think that you and your high school sweetheart will end up as husband and wife. I know I'm an English major, but I really don't want to end up as a teacher. How exactly did you end up as my professor's nanny?
end up at (some place)
To reach a particular location, often unintentionally. We wanted to go to the beach on Saturday, but because traffic was so bad, we ended up at the mall instead. When my car's engine overheated, I ended up at the mechanic instead of my big job interview. Hey, how was Saturday night? Where did you end up at?
end up in the knacker's yard
To be in or enter a state of ruin or failure due to having become useless or obsolete. Refers to a slaughterhouse for old or injured horses. Once a booming industry before the age of the Internet, home video rental has largely ended up in the knacker's yard these days. This used to be a flourishing town, but it ended up in the knacker's yard after the hurricane. It's hard to believe that my first smartphone, once so revolutionary, ended up in the knacker's yard long ago.
end up in the poorhouse
1. dated Literally, to begin living in a publicly maintained institution for those who are poor. People don't actually end up in the poorhouse anymore—this isn't Dickensian England. I'm not surprised Reginald ended up in the poorhouse—he was always squandering his money on lavish things that no man needs. According to my grandmother, we have relatives who ended up in the poorhouse during that economic downturn in the 1800s.
2. By extension, to have no money. Usually used hyperbolically. With a mortgage payment that high, you guys will end up in the poorhouse! After putting four kids through college, we're gonna end up in the poorhouse! You fool! You're gonna end up in the poorhouse if you keep gambling your savings like that!
end up with the short end of the stick
To receive a burden or disadvantage as a result of an unequal or unfair outcome or treatment. You have to stay vigilant during business negotiations or else you may end up with the short end of the stick. I think Tom felt like he ended up with the short end of the stick growing up, since his older brother got most of the attention and praise for his athletic skills. Considering the amount of extra time and effort I had to put into this project, I certainly ended up with the short end of the stick!
end with (something)
To conclude something with a particular action. Well, as usual, our family dinner ended with a big fight. While the high school experience ends with graduation for most seniors, there are always an unlucky few who have to stay behind an extra year. If this playoff game ends with a win for the home team, they'll take the series and move on to the next round.
fairy-tale ending
A perfectly ideal ending or resolution (to something), as if it had been written for a fairy tale. The championship victory is a fairy-tale ending for a team that just last year was ranked last in the league. Unfortunately, fairy-tale endings aren't guaranteed in the real world, and our own love story ended in heartbreak. A: "Does any couple on a soap opera get a true fairy-tale ending?" B: "Only if the actors leave the show together. If they stick around, they're inevitably going to be involved in drama."
Hollywood ending
A highly dramatic ending or conclusion, especially an exceptionally happy or positive one, as might happen in a film. The championship victory is a Hollywood ending for a team that just last year was ranked last in the league. The Hollywood ending would see the corrupt senator sent to prison and his unscrupulous acts reversed. Unfortunately, this is real life, so I wouldn't hold my breath. Yeah, this saga won't have a Hollywood ending for ordinary people like us. All we'll have is a lot of legal fees and paperwork.
rear end
1. noun Literally, the rear-most part of something. There is a dining car at the rear end of the train.
2. noun, euphemism By extension, the buttocks. Does my rear end look big in these pants?
3. verb To hit another car from behind with one's own. Usually hyphenated. The other driver was definitely at fault—I was just sitting at a red light when he rear-ended me!
rear-ender
A minor car accident in which minimal damage is incurred, especially to the front and rear bumpers of the two cars involved. Michelle was a new driver so she was extremely upset when she had her first accident. Luckily, it was just a rear-ender, so there was no real damage to either car involved. I know a mechanic who specializes in providing affordable repairs for scrapes, scratches, and rear-enders. You need to start slowing down much sooner when you're coming up to a red light, or sooner or later you'll end up causing a rear-ender with the car ahead of you.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.