tail end (of something)

tail end

1. The rear or hindmost part of a person or animal; the place where an animal's tail is or would be. The fish can be identified by the distinctive purple stripes on its tail end. I fell off the horse and landed right on my tail end.

2. The very final stretch, part, or period of something. I'm getting to the tail end of the book Carol got me for Christmas. The singer just walked off the stage at the tail end of the concert without saying a word.

See also: end, tail

tail end (of something)

1. The rear or hindmost part of a person or animal; the place where an animal's tail is or would be. The tail end of the fish has distinctive purple stripes. I fell off the horse and landed right on my tail end.

2. The last or concluding part, portion, or period of something. The singer just walked off the stage at the tail end of the concert without saying a word. A: "Are you enjoying the book I got you for Christmas?" B: "Yeah, I'm at the tail end already!" A: "I hope they get to my part of the performance today." B: "Don't hold your breath—you're at the tail end of the list."

See also: end, tail

tail end

1. The rear or hindmost part, as in Douglas was at the tail end of the academic procession. [Mid-1700s]

2. The very end, the conclusion, as in Only at the tail end of his speech did he thank his sponsors. [Mid-1800s]

See also: end, tail

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.

the tail end of something

The tail end of something is the last part of it. He listened to the tail end of a discussion about the new virus. It was the tail end of another year.

(at) the tail ˈend (of something)

(at) the final or last part (of something): I didn’t hear most of the conversation — I only came in at the tail end.

See also: end, tail

tail-end

n. the back end of something or someone. He was at the tail-end of the long line.