27 Idioms for Ending Something

The end of something, whether it’s a task, relationship, or chapter in life, can often feel final or significant. Idioms for ending something help us express the closure of various situations in creative and meaningful ways. Whether it’s wrapping up a project, ending a friendship, or simply closing a book, idioms add depth to our expression of closure.

In this article, you’ll discover 27 idioms for ending something, offering diverse ways to express closure, conclusion, and resolution.

1. Call It a Day

Meaning: To stop working or conclude an activity, often because it is no longer productive or because it is time to rest.
In a Sentence:

• After finishing the presentation, we decided to call it a day and head home.
• I think we’ve done enough work for today, let’s call it a day.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish up, wrap up, stop for the day

2. Bring the Curtain Down

Meaning: To conclude or end something, typically a performance, event, or activity.
In a Sentence:

• The closing speech brought the curtain down on an incredibly successful conference.
• The concert was amazing, and the final song brought the curtain down perfectly.
  Other Ways to Say: Conclude, finish, close out

3. Draw the Line

Meaning: To set a limit or boundary, often marking the end of something or an activity.
In a Sentence:

• We had a great conversation, but I had to draw the line when they started discussing politics.
• I love working with you, but I’ll draw the line if things become disrespectful.
  Other Ways to Say: Set boundaries, stop, limit

4. Tie Up Loose Ends

Meaning: To complete or finalize the remaining small tasks or details before concluding something.
In a Sentence:

• Before leaving the office, I need to tie up loose ends on the current project.
• The final meeting was just to tie up loose ends and ensure everything was in order.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish, finalize, complete

5. Close the Book

Meaning: To put an end to something, often used metaphorically when ending a chapter of life or a project.
In a Sentence:

• After months of hard work, we finally closed the book on the project.
• It was a difficult decision, but I’ve closed the book on that relationship for good.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish, end, conclude

6. Put a Lid on It

Meaning: To stop or end something, often used when suggesting that someone should stop talking or stop a particular activity.
In a Sentence:

• I think it’s time to put a lid on it; we’ve discussed this enough.
• He was about to go on and on about the issue, so I had to tell him to put a lid on it.
  Other Ways to Say: Stop, shut down, end it

7. Call Time

Meaning: To end something, often used in sports or games when the play or activity is concluded.
In a Sentence:

• The referee called time after the final whistle blew, and the game was over.
• It’s late now, so I think we should call time on this meeting.
  Other Ways to Say: End the session, stop the activity, conclude

8. Put an End to

Meaning: To bring something to a conclusion, often used in contexts where something needs to be stopped or terminated.
In a Sentence:

• The board of directors decided to put an end to the current project due to its poor results.
• The conflict had gone on for too long, and they finally decided to put an end to it.
  Other Ways to Say: Terminate, conclude, finish

9. Finish the Job

Meaning: To complete something or bring it to a final, successful conclusion.
In a Sentence:

• We’ve worked hard, now it’s time to finish the job and submit the report.
• Despite the difficulties, he was determined to finish the job he had started.
  Other Ways to Say: Complete, conclude, wrap up

10. Wrap It Up

Meaning: To bring something to an end, often used informally to suggest concluding an event or activity.
In a Sentence:

• It’s getting late, let’s wrap it up and go home.
• After all the presentations, we decided to wrap it up with a quick Q&A session.
  Other Ways to Say: Conclude, finalize, bring to a close

11. Call It Quits

Meaning: To stop doing something, typically because one feels that continuing is no longer worthwhile.
In a Sentence:

• After the project failed, they decided to call it quits and not pursue it any further.
• It was a tough decision, but he finally called it quits on his career in marketing.
  Other Ways to Say: Stop, quit, terminate

12. Bring the Curtain Down

Meaning: To conclude or end something, often used for events like performances or activities.
In a Sentence:

• The director’s speech brought the curtain down on a successful performance.
• The meeting was brought to an end after the final presentation, bringing the curtain down.
  Other Ways to Say: Conclude, close out, finish

13. Draw the Line

Meaning: To set a limit or boundary, usually marking the end of a process or activity.
In a Sentence:

• I’m happy to help with the project, but I’ll draw the line when it comes to working late.
• She drew the line at being asked to take on extra work beyond her responsibilities.
  Other Ways to Say: Set limits, stop, draw a boundary

14. Close the Book

Meaning: To end or bring a conclusion to something, often symbolizing finality or closure.
In a Sentence:

• After weeks of discussion, we closed the book on the topic and moved on to new matters.
• The investigation is over, and we’ve officially closed the book on the case.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish, conclude, wrap up

15. Cut the Cord

Meaning: To end a dependency or relationship, often used to refer to breaking free from someone or something that has been limiting or restricting.
In a Sentence:

• After years of working for the company, she decided to cut the cord and start her own business.
• It was hard, but he finally cut the cord and stopped relying on his parents.
  Other Ways to Say: Break free, sever ties, end a dependency

16. Throw in the Towel

Meaning: To quit or give up, especially after struggling with a difficult situation.
In a Sentence:

• After multiple failed attempts, he decided to throw in the towel and move on to something else.
• She was about to throw in the towel after all the setbacks, but decided to push through.
  Other Ways to Say: Give up, surrender, quit

17. Pull the Plug

Meaning: To stop or terminate something, especially a project or plan that is no longer working.
In a Sentence:

• After reviewing the numbers, they decided to pull the plug on the product launch.
• We had to pull the plug on the event due to unforeseen circumstances.
  Other Ways to Say: Terminate, stop, cancel

18. Wrap It Up

Meaning: To bring something to an end or conclusion, typically a task or activity.
In a Sentence:

• It’s getting late, let’s wrap it up and go home.
• We’re almost done, let’s wrap it up and finalize the report.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish, conclude, end

19. Shut the Door on

Meaning: To bring an end to something, often closing off an opportunity or relationship.
In a Sentence:

• After the argument, he decided to shut the door on the idea of reconciliation.
• She shut the door on the project, feeling that it was no longer worth pursuing.
  Other Ways to Say: Close off, end, terminate

20. Seal the Deal

Meaning: To finalize or conclude something, especially a negotiation or agreement.
In a Sentence:

• After weeks of discussions, they were finally able to seal the deal on the contract.
• She sealed the deal with a firm handshake, concluding the business transaction.
  Other Ways to Say: Finalize, complete, conclude

21. End on a High Note

Meaning: To finish something, especially an event or project, in a successful or positive way.
In a Sentence:

• They ended the concert on a high note, with an amazing final performance that left the audience cheering.
• After a successful year, he decided to end on a high note by completing his final project ahead of schedule.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish well, conclude successfully, end positively

22. Close the Door on

Meaning: To end or finish something, often closing off an opportunity or relationship for good.
In a Sentence:

• After the disagreement, they decided to close the door on the project and move on.
• His decision to quit the company closed the door on any future collaborations.
  Other Ways to Say: End, terminate, close off

23. End the Run

Meaning: To bring an end to a successful or ongoing period, activity, or streak.
In a Sentence:

• The winning streak finally came to an end after the team lost the match.
• His reign as champion ended the run of victories in the tournament.
  Other Ways to Say: Terminate the streak, break the cycle, end the series

24. Sign Off On

Meaning: To formally approve or complete something, often marking the conclusion of a process.
In a Sentence:

• The project was ready to be delivered once the manager signed off on it.
• She signed off on the final draft, and the report was officially complete.
  Other Ways to Say: Approve, finalize, give the go-ahead

25. Tie It Up in a Bow

Meaning: To complete something neatly and with all details accounted for, symbolizing the perfect conclusion.
In a Sentence:

• After months of hard work, she tied the project up in a bow, ensuring everything was perfect.
• We spent the afternoon tying up loose ends and tying it up in a bow.
  Other Ways to Say: Finish off, complete, wrap up neatly

26. Pull the Plug

Meaning: To stop or terminate something, especially when it’s no longer working or viable.
In a Sentence:

• The company had to pull the plug on the project due to financial difficulties.
• After seeing no progress, the manager decided to pull the plug on the new initiative.
  Other Ways to Say: Terminate, cancel, end abruptly

27. Bring Down the Curtain

Meaning: To bring something to an end, often used for performances, events, or activities.
In a Sentence:

• The speech brought down the curtain on a fantastic evening of celebrations.
• After the last song, the band brought down the curtain, marking the end of the concert.
  Other Ways to Say: End, close, finish

Practice Exercise

1. After finishing the project, it’s time to ____________ and relax for the day.
2. The negotiations lasted for hours, but they finally ____________ and came to an agreement.
3. She decided to ____________ the project, as it had been dragging on for too long.
4. After hearing the news, I decided to ____________ the argument and go home.
5. It was a long day, but we managed to ____________ and end the meeting successfully.
6. He’s tired of the situation and wants to ____________ with it once and for all.
7. They finally decided to ____________ the contract, putting all the details in place.
8. After the final performance, the director decided to ____________ and bring the show to a close.
9. After several attempts, she finally decided to ____________ the business partnership.
10. The professor told the class to ____________ the final assignment by the end of the week.
11. He wanted to ____________ the stressful situation and take some time off.
12. She was exhausted and decided to ____________ for the night.
13. The meeting seemed to be going in circles, so he decided to ____________ and stop the discussion.
14. The long-running television series is finally going to ____________ with the last episode.
15. He spent hours working on the document and then decided to ____________ and submit it.
16. It’s been a great run, but it’s time to ____________ and move forward.
17. The tension between the two finally made him ____________ and quit.
18. We had to ____________ the event due to unforeseen circumstances.
19. The director’s speech was the perfect way to ____________ the evening’s event.
20. After all the work was done, he took a moment to ____________ the last few details.
21. She told him to ____________ the constant arguing, as it was getting nowhere.
22. They were ready to ____________ the company’s latest project, which had been in development for months.
23. After months of preparation, they were able to ____________ the wedding plans.
24. The project was a disaster, and the manager finally decided to ____________ it.
25. She wanted to ____________ and leave the office early after a long week.
26. The day was full of emotions, but we ended it ____________ with a great celebration.
27. He had no more energy left and decided to ____________ after a long day at work.

Answer Key

1. a) Call It a Day
2. c) Seal the Deal
3. g) Put an End to
4. h) Shut the Door on
5. b) Wrap It Up
6. t) Finish the Job
7. o) Tie Up Loose Ends
8. q) Bring the Curtain Down
9. s) Close the Door on
10. f) Close the Book
11. u) Hit the Sack
12. t) Finish the Job
13. m) Put a Lid on It
14. n) Bring Down the Curtain
15. b) Wrap It Up
16. r) Cut the Cord
17. p) Throw in the Towel
18. d) Pull the Plug
19. j) End on a High Note
20. o) Tie Up Loose Ends
21. m) Put a Lid on It
22. c) Seal the Deal
23. e) Tie the Knot
24. d) Pull the Plug
25. u) Hit the Sack
26. j) End on a High Note
27. b) Wrap It Up

Conclusion

Ending something, whether it’s a project, event, or chapter in life, marks the completion of one phase and the beginning of another. The 27 idioms for ending something we’ve explored provide diverse ways to express closure and finality. From “calling it a day” to “throwing in the towel,” these idioms offer a creative vocabulary to communicate both the literal and emotional aspects of endings.

These idioms enrich our language by giving us expressive ways to talk about the challenges, relief, and sometimes bittersweet emotions that come with closing one chapter of life. By incorporating them into your daily conversations or writing, you can better articulate the variety of experiences associated with endings, whether they are small or monumental. Understanding the nuances behind these phrases can also illuminate how we perceive and tackle difficult moments. For instance, with ‘bad situations idioms explained,’ we can gain insights into not only the vocabulary itself but also the underlying emotions that resonate with many. This deeper comprehension allows us to communicate more effectively and empathetically during times of transition and hardship. In addition to helping us navigate endings, language also provides essential tools for guiding ourselves and others through life’s challenges. The use of common idioms for giving advice can make our suggestions more relatable and memorable, reinforcing our connections with those we seek to support. By embracing these expressions, we not only enhance our communication but also foster a sense of solidarity and understanding in difficult times.

The next time you’re wrapping up a project or saying goodbye to something, consider using one of these idioms to add depth and color to your words. They help capture the essence of finishing something with a sense of accomplishment, finality, or relief.