English
Noun
living end (uncountable)
- (idiomatic, preceded by the) The most extreme form of something or the final and most impactful development in a series of events — whether favorable or unfavorable
- 1963 Feb. 26, Murray Olderman, "Wilt Hurts Warriors Despite High Average," Sarasota Journal, p. 15 (retrieved 1 Nov 2013):
- This is the guy who was supposed to be the living end when he came into the NBA in 1959. Yet the Warriors have never been better than second with him.
- 1979 April 27, David Powell, "Compromise Workmen's Comp Measure Sent to Governor," Lakeland Ledger, p. 3C (retrieved 1 Nov 2013):
- “We don't pretend that this bill is going to be the living end,” Senate President Phil Lewis said. “. . . But hopefully this is landmark legislation.”
- 1987 Jan. 25, Howard Thompson, "Critics' Choices: Television," New York Times (retrieved 1 Nov 2013):
- Hitchcock uses a dazzling bag of tricks in Saboteur (1942)—Sunday at 2 A.M. on Channel 9—and that Statue of Liberty torch-hanger is the living end.
- 1995, Harry Combs, Brules, ISBN 9780440217282, p. 76:
- “Cat Brules, you're the living end! You're the worst boy I ever seen.”
- 1996, David Paul Ausubel, Ego: Development and Psychopathology, ISBN 9781412822336, p. 60:
- “Well, it's the same old sixes and sevens at our house. The children are driving me wild, now that school is out, and I don't know if I really do want to go on living with him. Last night was the living end.”
- 2006 Aug. 8, Lowell Cohn, "Commentary: Juice up all the athletes," Spartanburg Herald-Journal, p. D2 (retrieved 1 Nov 2013):
- I know that sounds cynical, but this latest scandal with cyclist Floyd Landis is the living end.
Synonyms
- (most extreme form or final, most impactful event): culmination
- (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — favorable sense): best (noun), high point
- (most extreme form or final, most impactful event — unfavorable sense): breaking point, last straw, worst (noun)
References