end game

Or endgame

noun

1. Chess.,  the final stage of a game, usually following the exchange of queens and the serious reduction of forces.

2. the late or final stages of any activity.

   the end game of the negotiations.

Word History and Origins

Origin of end game¹

First recorded in 1880–85

Idioms and Phrases

The final stage of some process, as in The book discussed the diplomatic end game resulting in the treaty. This term, dating from about 1880, comes from chess, where it denotes the stage of a game when most of the pieces have been removed from the board. In the mid-1900s it began to be transferred to other activities.

Example Sentences

In other words, recognition was part of the end game.

From BBC

Chaos is the point, a crucial aspect of the psychological tactics deployed against the American public to distract us from their end game.

From Salon

It's quite clear that the end game is to try to reduce access to or eliminate access to this care for everybody.

From Salon

They felt earlier this week it was coming towards the end game in their pursuit of Delap, and it was between them and Chelsea.

From BBC

"The end game is that we get a situation where the political parties are racing to compete for votes on climate and nature, rather than running away from them," explains Read.

From BBC