end of the line

Idioms  

1. Also, end of the road. The conclusion or final outcome. For example, The editorial pointed out that it was the end of the line for the President; he'd never be reelected, or It was obviously the end of the road for this television series. This idiom alludes to the point where a road or line stops. [c. 1900]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

end of the line

In his prime he was a magnificent talent, a borderline genius, but this is the end of the line - as it is for many of an ageing squad.

From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026

“Hello?” a voice said on the other end of the line.

From Salon ● Jun. 24, 2026

When it finally picked up, I was briefly horrified by what sounded like screaming on the other end of the line.

From Slate ● Jun. 20, 2026

Telegraphy was nearly instantaneous, but it required skilled operators at each end of the line to encode and decode the message, effectively slowing transmission.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 26, 2026

She moved the water glass to the end of the line, and put the wine glass first.

From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas