English Reference
Idiom idiom

tie up loose ends


To deal with the minor consequences of a previous action; to tidy up, finish, or complete.

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


SIMPLE

“I need to tie up loose ends before I go on vacation.”

CONTEXTUAL

“Before the manager retired, she spent her final week tying up loose ends on several ongoing projects.”

COMPLEX

“After the merger was finalized, the legal team remained in the office for days to tie up loose ends regarding the remaining contracts.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    all bedlam breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  2. 02

    all ends up

    Completely; totally.

  3. 03

    all hell breaks loose

    The situation becomes chaotic or characterized by conflict or rage.

  4. 04

    arse end of nowhere

    A very remote place.

  5. 05

    big end of town

    The top end of town.

  6. 06

    bitter end

    The end of a long and difficult process.

  7. 07

    burn the candle at both ends

    To work hard night and day; to sleep late and wake up early; to overwork or overexert oneself.

  8. 08

    business end

    The part of an object (chiefly a tool or weapon) that is physically used for its operation, rather than some other part such as the part by which it is held.

Last updated August 10, 2026