end of the line

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

end of the line (plural ends of the line or ends of the lines)

1. The termination point of a railway or similar transportation system.
   • 1898, Gertrude Franklin Horn Atherton, chapter 26, in The Californians:

     Sometimes she took the cable car to the end of the line, then walked to the Presidio.

2. (idiomatic) The final cessation or discontinuance of a process, institution, or person, especially one which has existed for a considerable period of time; death.

   Synonym: end of the road

   • 1967, Tommy Faile (lyrics and music), “Phantom 309”, performed by Red Sovine:

     Well, Joe lost control, went into a skid / And gave his life to save that bunch-a kids / And there at that crossroads, was the end of the line / For Big Joe and Phantom 309

   • 2008, AP/Matthew Rosenberg, "Nepal Prepares for End of Monarchy," Time, 5 Apr.:

     Gyanendra's 269-year-old Shah dynasty has reached the end of the line.

Translations

termination point of a railway or similar transportation system

• French: terminus (fr) m
• German: Endstation (de) f
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}