wind up

/ waɪnd /

verb

1. to bring to or reach a conclusion

   he wound up the proceedings

2. (tr) to tighten the spring of (a clockwork mechanism)

3. informal,  (tr; usually passive) to make nervous, tense, etc; excite

   he was all wound up before the big fight

4. (tr) to roll (thread, etc) into a ball

5. an informal word for liquidate

6. informal,  (intr) to end up (in a specified state)

   you'll wind up without any teeth

7. (tr; usually passive) to involve; entangle

   they were wound up in three different scandals

8. (tr) to hoist or haul up

9. slang,  (tr) to tease (someone)

noun

1. the act of concluding

2. the finish; end

3. slang,  an act or instance of teasing

   she just thinks it's a big wind-up

Idioms and Phrases

Come or bring to a finish, as in The party was winding up, so we decided to leave , or Let's wind up the meeting and get back to work . [Early 1800s] Also see wind down .

Put in order, settle, as in She had to wind up her affairs before she could move . [Late 1700s]

Arrive somewhere following a course of action, end up, as in We got lost and wound up in another town altogether , or If you're careless with your bank account, you can wind up overdrawn . [ Colloquial ; early 1900s]

Related Words

• close 
• complete 
• conclude 
• do 
• end up 
• finish up www.thesaurus.com
• settle 
• wrap up