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Synonyms

fag end

American  

noun

  1. the last part or very end of something.

    the fag end of a rope.

  2. the unfinished end of a piece of cloth; remnant.


fag end British  

noun

  1. the last and worst part, esp when it is of little use

  2. informal the stub of a cigarette

"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

Etymology

Origin of fag end

First recorded in 1605–15

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But at the fag end of the year the boom evaporated, and, coupled with lower demand from China, led to a pile-up of unsold chips at distributors and retailers.

From Reuters Feb. 15, 2019

A single question at the fag end of an extended PMQs is not a commanding position from which to address the nation.

From BBC Sep. 19, 2017

However, since the deal was announced only towards the fag end of the quarter, we don’t expect it to have helped Akamai’s margins this quarter.

From Forbes Feb. 7, 2012

Euphoria breeds complacency and a financial crisis erupts, just like the one at the fag end of the noughties, only bigger.

From The Guardian Mar. 31, 2010

Judith too was coming to look forward to that last hour of the school week, very often to schoolgirls a wasted hour at the fag end of things.

From Judy of York Hill by Ethel Hume Bennett

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