It’s the end of the year… so let’s learn some great English phrases with the word END!
These are casual, conversational expressions you might hear in everyday English – so it’s important to know what they mean and how to use them naturally.
Loose ends
= Unfinished details that still need to be dealt with
- Before we launch the course, we need to tie up a few loose ends.
At my wit’s end / at the end of my rope
= Completely frustrated or overwhelmed; out of patience/strength to continue
- I’ve tried everything — I’m at my wit’s end with this computer problem.
- After working 80 hours this week, I’m at the end of my rope.
light at the end of the tunnel
= a sign that difficulties are almost over.
- The project was tough, but we’re finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
A means to an end
= Something done only to achieve a goal, not because it’s valuable itself
- This part-time job is just a means to an end until I find something better.
The end of the road
= The point where progress or continuation is no longer possible
- When the company stopped responding to our messages, we knew it was the end of the road.
Not the end of the world
= Not as bad as it seems; not a disaster
- You didn’t get into your dream college, but it’s not the end of the world – there are lots of other great schools out there.
Put an end to something
= To make something stop completely
- The manager put an end to the gossip by addressing it directly.
A dead end
= A situation with no further progress or possibilities
- I put in several job applications, but they were all dead ends.
Get the short end of the stick
= To receive the worst part of a deal or situation
- He always gets the short end of the stick when chores are assigned.
Never hear the end of something
= Someone keeps talking or complaining about it
- If I forget our 20th wedding anniversary, I’ll never hear the end of it!
The first level focuses on practical phrases for daily life, and the second level teaches you more advanced informal expressions – all the lessons are based on dialogues so you can learn in context.
Make one’s hair stand on end
= To scare or shock someone
- That horror movie made my hair stand on end!
Make ends meet
= To have just enough money to cover expenses
- With rising prices, it’s getting harder to make ends meet.
No end in sight
= No sign of something stopping or being resolved
- This traffic jam has no end in sight.
Weeks/months/years on end
= For many weeks/months/years without stopping
- He worked seven days a week for months on end.
To what end?
= What’s the purpose or result of this? (often skeptical)
- She’s collecting all this data — but to what end?
End up (phrasal verb)
= To reach a final state or destination (often unexpected)
- We ended up staying in a tiny village off the map.
End game
= The final stage of a process, often one with strategy or consequences
- What’s your end game with this business idea?
Burn the candle at both ends
= overwork yourself; to do too much without rest.
- She’s been studying all night and working all day — she’s burning the candle at both ends.
At the end of the day
= when everything is considered; in conclusion.
- At the end of the day, what matters most is your health.
End on a high/sour note
= To finish something positively (high) or negatively (sour)
- The concert ended on a high note with a standing ovation.
- The meeting ended on a sour note after the argument.
I bet you didn’t know the word “end” could be used in so many different ways – but now you know 20 new expressions… and what better time to learn them than at the end of the year!
You can end the year on a high note by joining my Everyday English Speaking Course and taking your speaking skills to the next level, one lesson at a time.
