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View synonyms for bitter end

bitter end

[ bit-er end bit-er end ]

noun

  1. the conclusion of a difficult or unpleasant situation; the last or furthest extremity:

    Despite the unpleasant scenes in the movie, she insisted on staying until the bitter end.

  2. Nautical.
    1. the inboard end of an anchor chain or cable, secured in the chain locker of a vessel.
    2. the end of any chain or cable.


bitter end

noun

  1. nautical the end of a line, chain, or cable, esp the end secured in the chain locker of a vessel
    1. until the finish of a task, job, or undertaking, however unpleasant or difficult
    2. until final defeat or death
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter end1

1620–30 in form bitters end; probably bitt + -er 1( def ), later taken as bitter
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bitter end1

C19: in both senses perhaps from bitt
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Idioms and Phrases

The last extremity; also, death or ruin. For example, I'm supporting the union's demands to the bitter end , or Even though they fight a lot, I'm sure Mom and Dad will stay together to the bitter end . The source of this term may have been nautical, a bitter being a turn of a cable around posts, or bitts , on a ship's deck, and the bitter end meaning “the part of the cable that stays inboard.” Thus, when a rope is paid out to the bitter end, no more remains. [Mid-1800s]
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Example Sentences

Even still, it seemed briefly that Carlsen had earned the sort of slight advantage that he is famous for chasing to the bitter end.

Take the semifinal for what it was: a battle to the bitter end between two proud football nations.

And the remaining militants appear eager to milk the crisis right to the bitter end.

Custer was played as a cliché of grit and courage, jaw clenched with resolve as he fought to the bitter end.

I deliberately ignored all the warning voices inside me and enjoyed the time by his side almost until the bitter end.

Literally, to the very, very bitter end, even if it took her five hours to get ready, she would do it.

Harney still lay on the bed, motionless and with fixed eyes, as though following his vision to its bitter end.

“Now listen to this, girls,” said Puddy, who was intent on reading her excerpts to the bitter end.

But there were ugly people in the world, who began ugly, and went on being ugly to the bitter end.

But they are deaf and blind to the things of God; so the awful indictment must proceed to the bitter end.

Florence then came out, and we left those two to fight it out to the bitter end.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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