loose end
Unfinished business fragment
A loose end is an unresolved detail or unfinished piece of business.
The image comes from rope or thread left hanging rather than tied off.
Most often plural: We need to tie up a few loose ends before closing the deal.
To be at loose ends is to have nothing particular to do, to be unsettled or restless.
Suspended and swaying freely
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- pendingAwaiting resolution or decision
- outstandingExceptionally good or unpaid
lingering · unsettled · ongoing · unfulfilled · suspended · deferred · open · untied
Suspenseful unresolved ending
- plot holeLogical flaw in narrative
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- subplotSubordinate narrative strand
- mysterySomething unexplained or unknown
unanswered · sequel · foreshadowing · thread · arc · twist · denouement · epilogue
Unraveled at edges
- tangledTwisted confusedly together
- threadFiber for stitching
- stringSlender fiber or character sequence
- ropeThick twisted fibers
knot · unraveled · snipped · trimmed · cable · wire · cord · binding
Persistent bothering or complaining
- worryTroubled mental state
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- restlessnessState of unease
- preoccupationAbsorbing mental focus
gnawing · bothering · haunting · troubling · unsettling · disquiet · distraction · obsessing
Securing with cord
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- completionAct of finishing
- finalityState of conclusive completion
- conclusionEnd or deduction
settlement · wrap-up · finishing · buttoning up · sorting out · clearing up · accounting for · reconciliation
dangling
Suspended and swaying freely
- incompleteLacking necessary parts
- unfinishedNot yet complete
- pendingAwaiting resolution or decision
outstanding · lingering · unsettled · ongoing · unfulfilled · suspended · deferred · open · untied · hanging
cliffhanger
Suspenseful unresolved ending
- plot holeLogical flaw in narrative
- storylineSequence of fictional events
- subplotSubordinate narrative strand
mystery · unanswered · sequel · foreshadowing · thread · arc · twist · denouement · epilogue · wrap-up
frayed
Unraveled at edges
- tangledTwisted confusedly together
- threadFiber for stitching
- stringSlender fiber or character sequence
rope · knot · unraveled · snipped · trimmed · cable · wire · cord · binding · fastening
nagging
Persistent bothering or complaining
- worryTroubled mental state
- uneaseMild persistent worry
- restlessnessState of unease
preoccupation · gnawing · bothering · haunting · troubling · unsettling · disquiet · distraction · obsessing · ruminating
tying up
Securing with cord
- resolutionFormal decision or determination
- completionAct of finishing
- finalityState of conclusive completion
conclusion · settlement · wrap-up · finishing · buttoning up · sorting out · clearing up · accounting for · reconciliation · farewell
- incompleteincomplete, unfinished, partial, fragmentary, half-done
- writing flawstypos, spelling errors, plot hole, plot holes, cliche
- distractionsdistraction, digression, tangent, sidetrack, diversion
loose enddone deal
Finalized, irreversible agreement
closure · conclusion · resolution · case closed · mission accomplished
end, loose, loosened, loosening, loosens, looseness, unloose, looser, loosest