bitter end

[bit-er end for 1; bit-er end for 2]

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noun

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.

Nautical.

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

Origin of bitter end

1620–30 in form bitters end; probably bitt + -er¹, later taken as bitter

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for bitter end

completion, conclusion, death, ending, finish

Examples from the Web for bitter end

Historical Examples of bitter end

Indeed, how well does any bitter-end rationalist know anybody?
Pieces of Hate
Heywood Broun

British Dictionary definitions for bitter end

bitter end

noun

nautical the end of a line, chain, or cable, esp the end secured in the chain locker of a vessel

to the bitter enduntil the finish of a task, job, or undertaking, however unpleasant or difficult
until final defeat or death

Word Origin for bitter end

C19: in both senses perhaps from bitt

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

Word Origin and History for bitter end

In lexicons of sea language going back to 1759, the bitter end is the part of a cable which is round about the bits (two great timbers used to belay cables) when the ship is at anchor.

Bitter end of the Cable, the End which is wound about the Bitts. ["The News-Readers Pocket-Book: Or, a Military Dictionary," London, 1759]

See bit (n.1). So, when a cable is played out to the bitter end, there is no more left to play. The term began to be used c.1835 in non-nautical use and with probable influence of bitter (adj.).

Idioms and Phrases with bitter end

bitter end

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]