The end of a journey, a farewell, or a project’s conclusion often feels too complex for ordinary words. When a term like “the end” can’t fully express the relief, the sadness, or the completeness of a final act, you need a language with greater depth.
This article is your new guide to writing the final chapter. We’ve compiled a unique collection of Idioms for Ending Something, phrases that will help you articulate ideas about endings, separation, and change with vivid, insightful imagery. It’s time to make your stories about conclusions as meaningful and complete as a powerful last line.
Best Idioms for Ending Something
1. End of the Line
Meaning: The final point or conclusion of a process or situation.
In a Sentence:
This project has reached the end of the line; it’s over.
She knew it was the end of the line for their partnership.
Other Ways to Say: Final stop, Conclusion, Last stage
2. Dead End
Meaning: A situation or path with no further progress or resolution, like a road that stops.
In a Sentence:
Their negotiations hit a dead end, and talks ended.
This plan is a dead end; we need to stop.
Other Ways to Say: Impasse, No way forward, Stalemate
3. The War to End All Wars
Meaning: An event or action so significant it concludes all similar events, often used ironically.
In a Sentence:
They called it the deal to end all deals, but it failed.
This was the argument to end all arguments, finishing the feud.
Other Ways to Say: Ultimate end, Final event, Last of its kind
4. At the End of My Rope
Meaning: Having no more patience or resources, ready to give up or end something.
In a Sentence:
I’m at the end of my rope with this project; let’s end it.
She was at the end of her rope, so she quit.
Other Ways to Say: Out of patience, Done, At my limit
5. End Up
Meaning: To arrive at a final state or conclusion, often unexpectedly.
In a Sentence:
We ended up canceling the event after issues arose.
They ended up closing the store for good.
Other Ways to Say: Wind up, Finish up, Conclude
6. Hours on End
Meaning: Something continuing for a long time before finally ending.
In a Sentence:
We worked hours on end before wrapping up the task.
She talked for hours on end, then ended the call.
Other Ways to Say: Endless hours, Long stretch, Extended time
7. Keep Your End of the Bargain
Meaning: To fulfill your part of an agreement, ensuring its completion.
In a Sentence:
He kept his end of the bargain, finishing the deal.
She didn’t keep her end, so the project ended.
Other Ways to Say: Honor your part, Fulfill agreement, Hold up your side
8. No End of Trouble
Meaning: Persistent problems that seem endless but eventually conclude.
In a Sentence:
This job caused no end of trouble before we ended it.
She faced no end of trouble, finally quitting.
Other Ways to Say: Endless hassle, Constant issues, Ongoing problems
9. Odds and Ends
Meaning: Small, miscellaneous tasks or items to finish before ending something.
In a Sentence:
We tied up the odds and ends to end the project.
She cleared the odds and ends before closing the shop.
Other Ways to Say: Loose ends, Small tasks, Final bits
10. Tie Up Some Loose Ends
Meaning: To complete remaining tasks or details to finalize something.
In a Sentence:
Let’s tie up some loose ends to end this contract.
He tied up loose ends before ending his role.
Other Ways to Say: Wrap up, Finalize, Clear up
11. Call It a Day
Meaning: To stop working or end an activity for the day.
In a Sentence:
Let’s call it a day and end the meeting.
She called it a day after finishing her tasks.
Other Ways to Say: Wrap it up, Finish for now, Stop work
12. Put to Bed
Meaning: To complete or finalize something, like putting a child to sleep.
In a Sentence:
We put the project to bed after months of work.
She put the issue to bed, ending the debate.
Other Ways to Say: Finalize, Conclude, Settle
13. Draw a Line Under
Meaning: To officially end something and move on.
In a Sentence:
Let’s draw a line under this chapter and move forward.
He drew a line under the argument, ending it.
Other Ways to Say: Close out, Put an end to, Finish
14. Pull the Plug
Meaning: To abruptly end or cancel something, like unplugging a device.
In a Sentence:
They pulled the plug on the failing campaign.
She pulled the plug, ending the partnership.
Other Ways to Say: Cancel, Terminate, Shut down
15. Wrap It Up
Meaning: To finish or conclude something, often quickly.
In a Sentence:
Let’s wrap it up and end the presentation.
He wrapped up the deal to end negotiations.
Other Ways to Say: Finish, Conclude, Tie up
16. Bring to a Close
Meaning: To formally end an event, process, or situation.
In a Sentence:
They brought the meeting to a close after hours.
She brought the project to a close successfully.
Other Ways to Say: Conclude, End, Finalize
17. Cut Off
Meaning: To abruptly end or stop something, like severing a connection.
In a Sentence:
They cut off funding, ending the initiative.
She cut off contact, ending the relationship.
Other Ways to Say: Terminate, Stop, Sever
18. Close the Book On
Meaning: To end something definitively, like closing a book.
In a Sentence:
Let’s close the book on this failed plan.
He closed the book on his old job.
Other Ways to Say: End for good, Finish, Conclude
19. Put the Lid On
Meaning: To finalize or end something, like sealing a container.
In a Sentence:
They put the lid on the project after completion.
She put the lid on the drama by resolving it.
Other Ways to Say: Seal, Finalize, End
20. Burn Bridges
Meaning: To end something in a way that prevents going back.
In a Sentence:
He burned bridges, ending ties with the team.
She burned bridges, never returning to that job.
Other Ways to Say: Cut ties, Sever connections, End permanently
21. Call It Quits
Meaning: To decide to stop or end something completely.
In a Sentence:
They called it quits after years of struggling.
She called it quits, ending her efforts.
Other Ways to Say: Give up, Stop, End it
22. Drop the Curtain
Meaning: To end an event or situation, like a play concluding.
In a Sentence:
Let’s drop the curtain on this chapter.
He dropped the curtain on the old strategy.
Other Ways to Say: Conclude, End, Finish
23. Wind Up
Meaning: To bring something to a conclusion, like winding up a clock.
In a Sentence:
We wound up the meeting with final decisions.
She wound up her role, ending her tenure.
Other Ways to Say: Finish, Conclude, Wrap up
24. Shut the Door On
Meaning: To end an opportunity or situation permanently.
In a Sentence:
They shut the door on further talks.
She shut the door on her old career.
Other Ways to Say: Close off, End, Rule out
25. Break Off
Meaning: To abruptly end a relationship or process.
In a Sentence:
They broke off negotiations, ending the deal.
She broke off the friendship, tired of drama.
Other Ways to Say: Terminate, Stop, End abruptly
26. Put an End To
Meaning: To deliberately stop or finish something.
In a Sentence:
Let’s put an end to this pointless argument.
He put an end to the failing experiment.
Other Ways to Say: Stop, Terminate, Conclude
27. Close the Chapter
Meaning: To end a phase or period of life, like finishing a book chapter.
In a Sentence:
She closed the chapter on her old job.
They closed the chapter, ending the dispute.
Other Ways to Say: Move on, End phase, Conclude
28. Hang Up Your Boots
Meaning: To retire or end a career, like an athlete retiring.
In a Sentence:
He hung up his boots, ending his career.
She’s hanging up her boots after years of work.
Other Ways to Say: Retire, Step down, Quit
29. Throw in the Towel
Meaning: To give up and end an effort, like a boxer conceding.
In a Sentence:
They threw in the towel, ending the project.
She threw in the towel after repeated failures.
Other Ways to Say: Give up, Surrender, Quit
30. Bite the Dust
Meaning: To fail or end completely, often dramatically.
In a Sentence:
The plan bit the dust after funding stopped.
His idea bit the dust, ending quickly.
Other Ways to Say: Fail, Collapse, End
31. Run Its Course
Meaning: To naturally come to an end after a period.
In a Sentence:
The campaign has run its course; let’s end it.
Their friendship ran its course and ended.
Other Ways to Say: Finish naturally, Conclude, Wind down
32. Come to a Close
Meaning: To gradually end or conclude an event or process.
In a Sentence:
The event came to a close after a great day.
Her tenure came to a close with a farewell.
Other Ways to Say: End, Finish, Conclude
33. Seal the Deal
Meaning: To finalize or end an agreement definitively.
In a Sentence:
They sealed the deal, ending negotiations.
She sealed the deal, concluding the contract.
Other Ways to Say: Finalize, Close, Complete
34. Cut and Run
Meaning: To abruptly end something and leave, often to avoid trouble.
In a Sentence:
He cut and ran, ending his involvement.
She cut and ran from the failing project.
Other Ways to Say: Flee, Abandon, Bail out
35. Draw to a Close
Meaning: To gradually end or finish, like a process winding down.
In a Sentence:
The meeting drew to a close after hours.
Her time with the team drew to a close.
Other Ways to Say: Wind down, End, Conclude
36. Close the Curtain
Meaning: To end an event or situation, like a performance ending.
In a Sentence:
They closed the curtain on the old policy.
She closed the curtain on her past mistakes.
Other Ways to Say: End, Finish, Conclude
37. Pack It In
Meaning: To stop or give up on something, ending it completely.
In a Sentence:
Let’s pack it in; this isn’t working.
He packed it in, ending his efforts.
Other Ways to Say: Quit, Give up, Stop
38. Lay to Rest
Meaning: To end or resolve something, like putting it to sleep.
In a Sentence:
They laid the issue to rest, ending the debate.
She laid her doubts to rest, concluding the matter.
Other Ways to Say: Settle, Resolve, End
39. Knock It on the Head
Meaning: To stop or end something abruptly.
In a Sentence:
Let’s knock it on the head and end this plan.
He knocked the idea on the head, stopping it.
Other Ways to Say: Stop, Terminate, Cancel
40. Bring Down the Curtain
Meaning: To end something dramatically, like a play’s final curtain.
In a Sentence:
They brought down the curtain on the old system.
She brought down the curtain, ending her role.
Other Ways to Say: Conclude, End, Finish
41. Fold Up Shop
Meaning: To close or end a business or endeavor, like shutting a store.
In a Sentence:
They folded up shop, ending the venture.
She folded up shop after years of struggle.
Other Ways to Say: Shut down, Close, End
42. Call Off
Meaning: To cancel or end an event or plan before it happens.
In a Sentence:
They called off the meeting, ending plans.
She called off the trip, citing issues.
Other Ways to Say: Cancel, Abort, Scrap
43. Shut Down
Meaning: To completely stop or end an operation or process.
In a Sentence:
They shut down the factory, ending production.
She shut down the argument with facts.
Other Ways to Say: Close, Terminate, End
44. Nip in the Bud
Meaning: To stop something early before it grows or continues.
In a Sentence:
They nipped the issue in the bud, ending it early.
She nipped the rumor in the bud, stopping it.
Other Ways to Say: Stop early, Cut short, End quickly
45. Close Up Shop
Meaning: To end a business or activity, like closing a store.
In a Sentence:
They closed up shop, ending the business.
She closed up shop after years of work.
Other Ways to Say: Shut down, End, Wrap up
46. Put the Brakes On
Meaning: To slow down or stop something, like applying brakes.
In a Sentence:
They put the brakes on the project, ending it.
She put the brakes on the plan due to risks.
Other Ways to Say: Stop, Halt, Slow down
47. End on a High Note
Meaning: To finish something successfully or positively.
In a Sentence:
Let’s end on a high note with a great presentation.
She ended her career on a high note.
Other Ways to Say: Finish well, Conclude positively, Wrap up nicely
48. Cut the Cord
Meaning: To end a dependency or connection, like cutting a cable.
In a Sentence:
He cut the cord, ending ties with the group.
She cut the cord, finishing her reliance on them.
Other Ways to Say: Break ties, End connection, Sever links
49. Drop the Ball
Meaning: To fail to complete something, leading to its end.
In a Sentence:
He dropped the ball, ending the project’s progress.
She dropped the ball, causing the plan to end.
Other Ways to Say: Fail, Let down, Fumble
50. Final Nail in the Coffin
Meaning: The last action or event that ends something completely.
In a Sentence:
The budget cut was the final nail in the coffin for the program.
Her mistake was the final nail in the coffin, ending the deal.
Other Ways to Say: Last straw, Killing blow, Endgame
Exercise to Practice – Idioms for Ending Something
- After arguing for hours about the project, we realized we had reached a _________________________ and couldn’t agree.
- I’ve had enough of this drama; it’s time to _________________________ with him for good.
- The company was in trouble, but the latest scandal was the _________________________.
- The CEO decided to _________________________ on the failing project before it wasted any more money.
- After years of hard work, the team was happy to finally _________________________ and celebrate their success.
- She was tired of all the constant problems with her car; it seemed to cause her _________________________.
- The final exam was the last hurdle; after that, I could _________________________ on this difficult semester.
- I’ve tried to be patient, but I’m _________________________ with this constant arguing.
- He was so exhausted from working _________________________ on the report.
- The once-popular TV show had finally _________________________, and the ratings were dropping.
Answer Key
- dead end
- cut the cord
- final nail in the coffin
- pull the plug
- put the project to bed
- no end of trouble
- close the book on
- at the end of my rope
- hours on end
- run its course
Conclusion
A new language for endings has just been unlocked. The Idioms for Ending Something you’ve learned are your key to bringing farewells and final acts to life with a fresh perspective. These phrases don’t just help you tell a more engaging story; they also allow you to see conclusions from a profound and authentic angle. Use them to make the story of your journey as timeless and inspiring as the wisdom they contain.
Danny Weber is a language enthusiast and freelance writer with a passion for unpacking the beauty of idioms and metaphors. Through years of research and creative exploration, Danny helps readers understand the deeper meanings behind familiar phrases—making figurative language feel accessible, engaging, and alive. Whether he’s decoding classic sayings or crafting new twists on old expressions, Danny’s work invites you to see language with fresh eyes.
