bitter end
The very last
The bitter end is the final, difficult conclusion of something unpleasant—seeing it through no matter how hard: She fought the lawsuit to the bitter end.
The phrase may derive from nautical terminology, where the bitter end is the last length of anchor rope secured to the ship, but it now simply means the very last, often painful, moment.
Vessel's ground tackle linkage
- capstanVertical rotating hauling device
- windlassCranked cylinder for lifting
- mooringVessel's secured resting place
- cleatShoe spike for grip
bollard · rode · hawser · forecastle · stopper knot
End or deduction
- last gaspFinal desperate attempt
- end of the lineFinal destination point
- finishBring to completion
- terminationAct of ending something
closure · culmination · denouement · finale · completion · last stand · final chapter · endgame
Firmness of purpose
- tenacityPersistent grip or resolve
- resolveFirmness of purpose
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- enduranceSustained effort capacity
steadfastness · persistence · holding on · unwavering · doggedness · fortitude · resilience · no surrender
anchor chain
Vessel's ground tackle linkage
- capstanVertical rotating hauling device
- windlassCranked cylinder for lifting
- mooringVessel's secured resting place
cleat · bollard · rode · hawser · forecastle · stopper knot
conclusion
End or deduction
- last gaspFinal desperate attempt
- end of the lineFinal destination point
- finishBring to completion
termination · closure · culmination · denouement · finale · completion · last stand · final chapter · endgame · resolution
determination
Firmness of purpose
endurance · steadfastness · persistence · holding on · unwavering · doggedness · fortitude · resilience · no surrender · final push
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- ropeworkknot tying, knot, knots, ropework, hitch
- doomdoomsday, impending doom, doom and gloom, doomed, sense of doom
- betrayalbackstab, betray, betrayal, traitor, backstabber
- estrangementrift, alienation, disconnection, distance, disaffection
- poetic phrasesonce upon a time, happily ever after, star-crossed lovers, sweet sorrow, eternal flame
bitter endhalfway point
Center between two ends
abandonment · early exit · midpoint · giving up · throwing in the towel
bitter endbeginning
Initial stage of something
start · outset · commencement · inception · starting point
bitter, bitterness, bitterly, embitter, bitters, bitterest, bittersweet, embittered, bitterer