Mastering idioms is crucial for achieving fluency and a deeper understanding of the English language. Idioms add color and nuance to our speech and writing, making communication more engaging and effective.
This article focuses on idioms specifically related to the concept of “ending something,” whether it’s a relationship, a project, a job, or any other endeavor. Understanding these idioms will not only enhance your comprehension of spoken and written English but also enable you to express yourself more vividly and accurately.
This guide is designed for English language learners of all levels, from beginners seeking to expand their vocabulary to advanced speakers aiming to refine their command of the language.
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of Idioms for Ending Something
- Structural Breakdown of Idioms
- Types and Categories of Ending Idioms
- Examples of Idioms for Ending Something
- Usage Rules for Idioms
- Common Mistakes with Idioms
- Practice Exercises
- Advanced Topics
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Conclusion
Definition of Idioms for Ending Something
An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be understood from the literal meanings of its individual words. Instead, an idiom has a figurative meaning that is known through common usage.
Idioms for ending something are phrases that describe the conclusion, termination, or cessation of an action, event, relationship, or state. These idioms often provide a more colorful and expressive way to describe endings than simple, literal language.
These idioms function as verbs, adverbs, or even adjectives within a sentence, depending on the specific phrase and its context. They add depth and nuance to communication by conveying not just the fact that something ended, but also *how* it ended – whether abruptly, gradually, amicably, or otherwise.
Understanding the context in which an idiom is used is crucial for interpreting its intended meaning.
Structural Breakdown of Idioms
Idioms, by their nature, defy strict grammatical rules. Their structure is often fixed, meaning that changing the words or their order can alter or completely destroy the idiom’s meaning.
However, understanding some common structural elements can be helpful:
- Phrasal Verbs: Many idioms are based on phrasal verbs, which consist of a verb and a preposition or adverb (e.g., call it quits, break up).
- Figurative Language: Idioms often employ metaphors, similes, and other figures of speech to create their unique meanings (e.g., pull the plug, draw the line).
- Fixed Expressions: Some idioms are fixed expressions that must be used exactly as they are (e.g., the end of the road, curtains for).
The grammatical function of an idiom within a sentence can vary. For example, “call it quits” functions as a verb phrase, while “the end of the road” functions as a noun phrase.
Recognizing these functions will help you use idioms correctly in your own writing and speech.
Types and Categories of Ending Idioms
Idioms for ending something can be categorized based on the nature of the ending they describe. Here are some common categories:
Idioms for Abrupt Endings
These idioms describe endings that are sudden and unexpected.
Idioms for Gradual Endings
These idioms describe endings that occur slowly over time.
Idioms for Amicable Endings
These idioms describe endings that are peaceful and mutually agreed upon.
Idioms for Unsuccessful Endings
These idioms describe endings that are marked by failure or disappointment.
Idioms for Forced Endings
These idioms describe situations where the ending is imposed by an external force or authority.
Examples of Idioms for Ending Something
The following tables provide examples of idioms for ending something, categorized by the type of ending they describe. Each example includes the idiom, its meaning, and a sample sentence.
Table 1: Idioms for Abrupt Endings
This table showcases idioms that describe sudden and unexpected conclusions.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Pull the plug | To stop something suddenly, often a project or initiative. | The company decided to pull the plug on the experimental project due to lack of funding. |
| Call it quits | To stop doing something, especially a job or activity. | After working overtime for weeks, I decided to call it quits and take a vacation. |
| Cut (someone) off | To abruptly end a relationship or connection. | She cut him off completely after discovering his lies. |
| Put the kibosh on (something) | To put an end to something; to stop something from happening. | The manager put the kibosh on the office party due to budget constraints. |
| Nip (something) in the bud | To stop something at an early stage before it develops further. | The teacher nipped the argument in the bud before it escalated. |
| Shut (something) down | To close or stop operating something. | The factory was shut down due to safety violations. |
| Bring (something) to a screeching halt | To stop something suddenly and forcefully. | The sudden announcement brought the negotiations to a screeching halt. |
| Crash and burn | To fail spectacularly and suddenly. | The startup crashed and burned after its funding dried up. |
| Fall flat | To fail to produce the intended effect or result. | His attempt at a joke fell flat, and no one laughed. |
| Go belly up | To fail completely, especially financially. | Many businesses went belly up during the economic recession. |
| Hit a brick wall | To encounter an obstacle that prevents further progress. | The investigation hit a brick wall when the key witness refused to cooperate. |
| Run its course | To come to a natural end. | The fad diet ran its course after a few months. |
| Strike out | To fail in an attempt. | He struck out when he tried to ask her on a date. |
| Fizzle out | To gradually diminish and end weakly. | Their enthusiasm for the project fizzled out after a few weeks. |
| Go south | To deteriorate or fail. | The deal went south when the other company changed its terms. |
| Come to naught | To come to nothing; to fail to achieve any result. | All their efforts came to naught when the project was canceled. |
| Go up in smoke | To disappear or be destroyed, especially in a sudden and dramatic way. | Their savings went up in smoke after the stock market crashed. |
| End in tears | To finish badly, usually with sadness or disappointment. | The argument ended in tears after harsh words were exchanged. |
| Go down the drain | To be wasted or lost completely. | All their hard work went down the drain when the system crashed. |
| Bite the dust | To fail or be defeated; to die. | Many small businesses bit the dust during the pandemic. |
| Meet one’s Waterloo | To meet one’s ultimate defeat or downfall. | The ambitious CEO finally met his Waterloo when his risky venture failed. |
| Fall by the wayside | To fail to finish an activity or process; to be left behind. | Many of the original participants fell by the wayside during the marathon. |
| Go kaput | To break down or stop working; to come to an end. | The old car finally went kaput after years of faithful service. |
| Go pear-shaped | To go wrong; to fail. | The party went pear-shaped when the band didn’t show up. |
Table 2: Idioms for Gradual Endings
This table lists idioms used to describe processes that wind down slowly.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Fade away | To gradually disappear or become weaker. | The sound of the music faded away as the car drove off. |
| Wind down | To gradually decrease or come to an end. | The company is winding down its operations in that region. |
| Taper off | To gradually decrease in intensity or quantity. | The government is planning to taper off its financial support for the project. |
| Peter out | To gradually decrease and come to an end. | The supply of food eventually petered out during the long journey. |
| Run out of steam | To lose energy or enthusiasm; to come to an end. | The project ran out of steam after the initial excitement wore off. |
| Wither away | To gradually decline or disappear. | The plants withered away due to lack of water. |
| Slowly but surely | Gradually and steadily. | Slowly but surely, the project came to a conclusion. |
| Run its course | To come to a natural end. | The illness just had to run its course. |
| Die down | To gradually decrease or fade. | The storm eventually died down overnight. |
| Trail off | To gradually decrease in volume or intensity. | Her voice trailed off as she began to cry. |
| Dwindle down | To gradually become smaller or fewer. | The number of attendees dwindled down as the conference progressed. |
| Ease off | To gradually reduce in intensity or effort. | The rain began to ease off in the late afternoon. |
| Simmer down | To gradually become calmer or less intense. | The crowd began to simmer down after the speaker finished. |
| Go by the board | To be disregarded or abandoned. | Their original plans went by the board due to unforeseen circumstances. |
| Melt away | To gradually disappear or diminish. | The tension in the room began to melt away as people started laughing. |
| Subside | To become less intense or severe. | The floodwaters began to subside after the rain stopped. |
| Taper off | To gradually decrease or reduce. | The company plans to taper off production in the coming months. |
| Draw to a close | To gradually come to an end. | The conference is drawing to a close after three days of sessions. |
| Decline | To gradually decrease or diminish. | His health began to decline in his later years. |
| Wane | To decrease in power, intensity, or size. | The moon began to wane after the full moon. |
| Ebb | To gradually lessen or reduce. | His anger began to ebb as he calmed down. |
| At a snail’s pace | Very slowly. | The project progressed at a snail’s pace due to bureaucratic delays. |
| On its last legs | Near the end of its useful life. | The old computer is on its last legs and needs to be replaced. |
| Fading into the sunset | Gradually disappearing or coming to an end. | The old cowboy was fading into the sunset after a long and fulfilling life. |
Table 3: Idioms for Amicable Endings
This table provides idioms that describe endings that are peaceful and agreeable.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Part ways | To end a relationship or association amicably. | After years of working together, they decided to part ways and pursue their own interests. |
| Go their separate ways | To end a relationship or association and pursue different paths. | After college, the friends went their separate ways, each pursuing their own careers. |
| Call a truce | To agree to stop fighting or arguing. | The two companies decided to call a truce and work together on the project. |
| Shake hands on it | To agree on something and finalize the agreement with a handshake. | They shook hands on it and finalized the deal. |
| Let (someone) off the hook | To release someone from a responsibility or obligation. | The teacher let the students off the hook and postponed the exam. |
| Bury the hatchet | To make peace after a conflict or disagreement. | The two families decided to bury the hatchet and move on. |
| Kiss and make up | To reconcile after a quarrel or disagreement. | After a brief argument, the siblings kissed and made up. |
| Leave it at that | To stop discussing something; to agree to disagree. | They decided to leave it at that and not argue about the issue anymore. |
| Agree to disagree | To accept that you have different opinions and stop arguing about it. | They agreed to disagree and moved on to another topic. |
| Draw a line under it | To put an end to something and move on. | It’s time to draw a line under it and start fresh. |
| Clear the air | To resolve a dispute or misunderstanding. | They needed to clear the air after the recent disagreement. |
| Patch things up | To resolve a disagreement or repair a relationship. | They managed to patch things up after the argument. |
| Start with a clean slate | To begin again, ignoring past mistakes or problems. | They decided to start with a clean slate and rebuild their relationship. |
| Turn over a new leaf | To change one’s behavior and start behaving in a better way. | He decided to turn over a new leaf and quit smoking. |
| Let bygones be bygones | To forget about past disagreements or offenses. | They decided to let bygones be bygones and move forward. |
| Call it even | To consider a debt or obligation to be settled. | After he helped her move, she said, “Call it even.” |
| Wipe the slate clean | To erase past mistakes and start fresh. | The new manager wanted to wipe the slate clean and implement new policies. |
| Make amends | To do something to correct a past mistake or wrongdoing. | He tried to make amends for his past mistakes by volunteering. |
| Reach a compromise | To come to an agreement by mutual concession. | The company and the union reached a compromise after negotiations. |
| Find common ground | To discover shared interests or opinions. | They tried to find common ground to resolve their differences. |
| Meet halfway | To compromise; to make concessions to reach an agreement. | They decided to meet halfway to settle the dispute. |
| A clean break | A complete and decisive end to a relationship or situation. | They wanted a clean break from their old life and moved to a new city. |
| Part as friends | To end a relationship while remaining friendly. | They decided to part as friends after realizing they were not compatible. |
| No hard feelings | No resentment or anger. | They wished each other well and said, “No hard feelings.” |
Table 4: Idioms for Unsuccessful Endings
This table presents idioms used to describe failure and disappointment.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Go down in flames | To fail spectacularly and disastrously. | The project went down in flames due to poor planning. |
| Fall through | To fail to happen or be completed. | Our vacation plans fell through because of the pandemic. |
| Come to nothing | To fail to achieve any result or success. | All their efforts came to nothing in the end. |
| Be a flop | To be a complete failure. | The new movie was a total flop at the box office. |
| Bomb | To fail completely. | The comedian’s jokes bombed with the audience. |
| Tank | To fail or perform poorly. | The company’s stock price tanked after the bad news. |
| Go belly up | To fail financially; to go bankrupt. | Many small businesses went belly up during the recession. |
| Go to pot | To deteriorate or decline. | The old house went to pot after years of neglect. |
| End in disaster | To have a very bad or unfortunate ending. | The party ended in disaster when a fight broke out. |
| Miss the mark | To fail to achieve the intended goal or result. | The company’s marketing campaign missed the mark and failed to attract new customers. |
| Go awry | To go wrong; to deviate from the planned course. | Despite careful planning, things went awry during the event. |
| Come unstuck | To fail or collapse. | The government’s economic plan came unstuck due to unforeseen circumstances. |
| Prove to be a dead end | To lead to no useful result or progress. | The investigation proved to be a dead end. |
| Be a washout | To be a complete failure. | The picnic was a washout because of the rain. |
| Fall short of the mark | To fail to reach the required standard or goal. | The team fell short of the mark and didn’t win the championship. |
| Leave (someone) empty-handed | To fail to provide someone with what they need or expect. | The negotiations left the workers empty-handed. |
| Be a non-starter | To be something that has no chance of success. | The proposal was a non-starter from the beginning. |
| Go nowhere | To fail to make progress or achieve a result. | Their conversation went nowhere and they couldn’t reach an agreement. |
| End up in tatters | To end in a ruined or damaged state. | Their relationship ended up in tatters after the scandal. |
| Go haywire | To go out of control; to malfunction. | The computer system went haywire and crashed. |
| Bite off more than one can chew | To take on a task that is too big to handle. | He bit off more than he could chew when he started two new businesses at once. |
| Bark up the wrong tree | To pursue a mistaken course of action. | They were barking up the wrong tree when they accused him of the crime. |
| Dead in the water | Having no chance of succeeding; unable to proceed. | The project was dead in the water after the funding was cut. |
| Back to square one | Back to the beginning because of a failure to accomplish the desired result. | After the experiment failed, they were back to square one. |
Table 5: Idioms for Forced Endings
This table offers idioms that describe conclusions imposed by external forces.
| Idiom | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Get the ax | To be fired or dismissed from a job. | He got the ax after the company downsized. |
| Be given the boot | To be fired or dismissed from a job. | She was given the boot for poor performance. |
| Be shown the door | To be dismissed or forced to leave a place or job. | He was shown the door after the scandal. |
| Be given (one’s) marching orders | To be told to leave a job or place. | They were given their marching orders after the project failed. |
| Be forced to close its doors | To be compelled to shut down a business or organization. | The company was forced to close its doors due to financial difficulties. |
| Shut down | To close or stop operating something, often by force or order. | The factory was shut down by the government due to safety violations. |
| Be put out to pasture | To be retired from a job or activity, often because of age. | He was put out to pasture after a long career in the military. |
| Be given the hook | To be removed or replaced, especially from a performance or event. | The singer was given the hook after a poor performance. |
| Be given the old heave-ho | To be forced out of a position or job. | He was given the old heave-ho after the new management took over. |
| Be given the pink slip | To be given notice of termination from a job. | Many employees were given pink slips during the company’s restructuring. |
| Be made redundant | To be dismissed from a job because it is no longer needed. | She was made redundant after the company automated its processes. |
| Have the rug pulled out from under (someone) | To suddenly remove support or assistance from someone. | He had the rug pulled out from under him when his funding was cut. |
| Be at the end of (one’s) rope | To have no more patience, energy, or resources. | They were at the end of their rope after dealing with the difficult situation for so long. |
| Have had it | To be unable to tolerate something any longer. | I’ve had it with his constant complaining. |
| Be given the elbow | To be dismissed or rejected. | He was given the elbow by the committee after his controversial remarks. |
| Be given the push | To be forced out of a job or position. | She was given the push after the company’s poor performance. |
| Be running out of time | To have very little time left to complete something. | They were running out of time to finish the project before the deadline. |
| Time is up | The period allowed for something has ended. | Time is up, please hand in your exams. |
| Be up against a wall | To be in a difficult situation with no easy solution. | They were up against a wall trying to save the company from bankruptcy. |
| Come to a head | To reach a critical point; to reach a crisis. | The conflict finally came to a head and a decision had to be made. |
| Be caught between a rock and a hard place | To be faced with two difficult choices. | He was caught between a rock and a hard place when he had to choose between his job and his family. |
| Have one’s back against the wall | To be in a difficult situation with limited options. | The company had its back against the wall due to the economic downturn. |
| The writing is on the wall | There are clear signs that something bad is going to happen. | The writing was on the wall that the company would soon go bankrupt. |
| Be on the chopping block | To be in danger of being fired or eliminated. | Several employees were on the chopping block during the company’s restructuring. |
Usage Rules for Idioms
Using idioms correctly requires understanding their specific meanings and contexts. Here are some general rules to follow:
- Context is Key: Always consider the context in which you are using an idiom. The same idiom can have different meanings in different situations.
- Word Order: Do not change the word order of an idiom. Idioms are fixed expressions, and altering the order can change or destroy their meaning.
- Tense and Agreement: Adjust the tense and agreement of the verb within the idiom to match the sentence. For example, “He called it quits yesterday” (past tense).
- Audience Awareness: Be mindful of your audience. Idioms are not always appropriate in formal settings or when communicating with non-native speakers.
- Overuse: Avoid overuse of idioms. Using too many idioms can make your writing or speech sound unnatural or contrived.
Common Mistakes with Idioms
Using idioms incorrectly is a common mistake among English language learners. Here are some examples of common errors and their corrections:
| Incorrect | Correct | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| He called it to quit. | He called it quits. | The correct idiom is “call it quits,” not “call it to quit.” |
| She pulled the electricity. | She pulled the plug. | The idiom is “pull the plug,” not “pull the electricity.” |
| They went their separated ways. | They went their separate ways. | The correct idiom is “separate ways,” not “separated ways.” |
| The project came to nothingness. | The project came to nothing. | The correct idiom is “came to nothing,” not “came to nothingness.” |
| He got the axe from his job. | He got the ax. | The correct idiom is “got the ax,” not “got the axe from his job.” |
| They shook their hands on it. | They shook hands on it. | The correct idiom is “shook hands,” not “shook their hands.” |
| We are going to part our ways. | We are going to part ways. | The correct idiom is “part ways,” not “part our ways.” |
| The idea fell through the cracks. | The idea fell through. | The correct idiom is “fell through,” not “fell through the cracks” (which has a different meaning related to oversights). |
Practice Exercises
Test your understanding of idioms for ending something with these practice exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with the appropriate idiom from the list below.
Idiom List: pull the plug, call it quits, part ways, ran out of steam, went belly up, given the ax, fizzled out, bite the dust, hit a brick wall, run its course
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. After years of struggling, the business finally __________. | went belly up |
| 2. The company decided to __________ on the project due to budget cuts. | pull the plug |
| 3. They decided to __________ after realizing they had different goals. | part ways |
| 4. The project __________ after the initial enthusiasm faded. | ran out of steam |
| 5. Many small businesses __________ during the economic downturn. | bite the dust |
| 6. He __________ after being caught stealing from the company. | was given the ax |
| 7. Their relationship __________ after a few months of dating. | fizzled out |
| 8. After working overtime for weeks, I decided to __________. | call it quits |
| 9. The investigation __________ when the key witness refused to testify. | hit a brick wall |
| 10. The fad diet __________ after a few months. | ran its course |
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct idiom to complete each sentence.
- The negotiations _________ when the two sides couldn’t agree on the terms.
- a) came to a head
- b) went south
- c) hit a brick wall
- d) drew to a close
Answer: c) hit a brick wall
- After several failed attempts, they decided to _________ and focus on other projects.
- a) call it a day
- b) call it quits
- c) call it even
- d) call a truce
Answer: b) call it quits
- The scandal caused the politician’s career to _________.
- a) fade away
- b) go up in smoke
- c) peter out
- d) wind down
Answer: b) go up in smoke
- Despite their best efforts, the company was _________ due to the economic crisis.
- a) forced to close its doors
- b) given the hook
- c) put out to pasture
- d) given the elbow
Answer: a) forced to close its doors
- They decided to _________ after years of disagreements and start fresh.
- a) bury the hatchet
- b) let bygones be bygones
- c) start with a clean slate
- d) shake hands on it
Answer: c) start with a clean slate
Advanced Topics
For advanced learners, exploring the etymology and historical context of idioms can provide a deeper understanding of their meanings and usage. Additionally, comparing idioms across different languages can offer insights into cultural perspectives on endings and transitions.
Consider researching the origins of idioms like “kick the bucket” or “bite the dust” to understand how their meanings have evolved over time. Analyzing literary works and historical texts can also reveal how idioms have been used in different contexts throughout history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is it important to learn idioms?
Learning idioms enhances your understanding of spoken and written English, allowing you to grasp nuanced meanings and communicate more effectively. Idioms add color and expressiveness to your language, making it more engaging and natural.
Are idioms the same in all English-speaking countries?
While many idioms are common across English-speaking countries, some idioms are specific to certain regions or cultures. Be aware of these regional variations when using idioms in your communication.
How can I improve my understanding of idioms?
Immerse yourself in English language content, such as books, movies, and conversations. Pay attention to how native speakers use idioms in context and make a note of any unfamiliar phrases.
Practice using idioms in your own speech and writing to reinforce your understanding.
Is it okay to use idioms in formal writing?
In general, it’s best to avoid using idioms in formal writing, as they can sound informal or colloquial. However, there may be exceptions depending on the specific context and audience.
Use your judgment and consider whether the idiom adds value to your writing or detracts from its professionalism.
What should I do if I don’t understand an idiom?
If you encounter an unfamiliar idiom, try to infer its meaning from the context. If that’s not possible, look it up in a dictionary or ask a native speaker for clarification.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help – it’s a sign of your commitment to learning!
Conclusion
Mastering idioms for ending something will significantly enhance your English language skills, allowing you to express yourself more vividly and understand the nuances of communication. By understanding the different types of ending idioms, their usage rules, and common mistakes to avoid, you can confidently incorporate these phrases into your everyday speech and writing.
Continue practicing and exploring new idioms to further expand your vocabulary and fluency. Embrace the richness and color that idioms bring to the English language, and enjoy the journey of continuous learning.
