loose ends

Idioms  

1. Unfinished details, incomplete business. For example, We've not quite finished the project; there are still some loose ends. This expression alludes to the ends of a rope or cable that should be fastened. [Mid-1800s] Also see at loose ends.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

loose ends

The idea that rich lives must close with a few loose ends isn’t a new one.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 7, 2026

Back-to-back wins mean it looks increasingly likely Leeds will avoid the drop, so boss Daniel Farke will have to tie up a few loose ends with his goalkeepers.

From BBC ● Apr. 21, 2026

In fact, I’m still tying up some loose ends.

From Salon ● Mar. 24, 2026

“To Kill a Cook” is a decadent treat, with enough loose ends in Bernice Black’s life and career to leave readers hungry for more.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

He devoted the rest of his life to searching for a way to tie up these loose ends by finding a grand unified theory, and always failed.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson