English Reference
Idiom idiom

end of the line


The final cessation or discontinuance of a process, institution, lineage, or person, especially one which has existed for a considerable period of time; death.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“This old car is at the end of the line.”

CONTEXTUAL

“After twenty years of declining sales, the company finally reached the end of the line and closed its doors.”

COMPLEX

“The aging monarch realized he had reached the end of the line, leaving his kingdom to face an uncertain future without his guidance.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all ends up

    Completely; totally.

  2. 02

    arse end of nowhere

    A very remote place.

  3. 03

    big end of town

    The top end of town.

  4. 04

    bitter end

    The end of a long and difficult process.

  5. 05

    blur the line

    To minimize or erode the distinction between two things.

  6. 06

    bottom line

    The summary or result; the most important information.

  7. 07

    bottom of the line

    The worst or lowest quality on the market, especially among a range of products.

  8. 08

    bright line

    A clear distinction in the context of a legal, moral, ethical, or analytical judgment.

Last updated August 10, 2026