bitter end
(Redirected from to the bitter end)
English
editEtymology
editThe figurative usage is influenced by bitter (“unpleasant, arduous”).
Pronunciation
editAudio (General Australian): (file)
Noun
editbitter end (plural bitter ends)
- (nautical) That part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains inboard when a ship is riding at anchor.
- pay out a rope to the bitter end (pay out all of the rope)
- (nautical) The final six fathoms (11 m) of anchor chain before the point of attachment in the chain locker of modern US naval vessels.
- (idiomatic) The end of a long and difficult process.
Derived terms
editRelated terms
editTranslations
editthat part of an anchor cable which is abaft the bitts and thus remains inboard when a ship is riding at anchor
the end of a long and difficult process
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See also
edit- Appendix:Parts of the knot
- last gasp
- the end of one's rope
- until the bitter end
- to the bitter end
- to the bitter end and beyond