at the end of the day

American  

[at thee end uhv thuh dey] / ˌæt ði ˈɛnd əv ðə ˈdeɪ /

idiom

1. after everything is considered or accounted for; ultimately.

   At the end of the day, we went for simpler printers that just do their job as soon as you click “print” on your device.

   “Yes, cost and convenience matter, but at the end of the day, it’s about the welfare of our children,” she said.

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Etymology

Origin of at the end of the day

First recorded in 1970–75

Example Sentences

We’re making sure that that Old Navy looks like Bottega, so that at the end of the day you feel like the superstar that you are.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

Let’s walk through some questions to help you think mathematically about maximizing returns, even if you still choose to trust your gut at the end of the day.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026

“If they collect the cash at the end of the day, then they collect the cash at the end of the day,” Nemeth says.

From Barron's • May 6, 2026

There are massive implications for the A.I. industry here, but at the end of the day, the question might boil down to - who do people dislike more?

From Slate • May 1, 2026

As they boxed up books and folders and unpinned words from the word wall, Sasha noticed the pair of clipboards parents used to sign out their kids at the end of the day.

From "The 57 Bus" by Dashka Slater

Related Words

• finally
• in the course of time
• one day
• someday
• sooner or later
• ultimately