bitter end

American  

[bit-er end, bit-er end] / ˈbɪt ər ˈɛnd, ˈbɪt ər ˌɛnd /

noun

1. the conclusion of a difficult or unpleasant situation; the last or furthest extremity.

   Despite the unpleasant scenes in the movie, she insisted on staying until the bitter end.

2. Nautical.

   1. the inboard end of an anchor chain or cable, secured in the chain locker of a vessel.

   2. the end of any chain or cable.

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bitter end British  

noun

1. nautical the end of a line, chain, or cable, esp the end secured in the chain locker of a vessel

2. 1. until the finish of a task, job, or undertaking, however unpleasant or difficult

   2. until final defeat or death

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bitter end Idioms  

1. The last extremity; also, death or ruin. For example, I'm supporting the union's demands to the bitter end, or Even though they fight a lot, I'm sure Mom and Dad will stay together to the bitter end. The source of this term may have been nautical, a bitter being a turn of a cable around posts, or bitts, on a ship's deck, and the bitter end meaning “the part of the cable that stays inboard.” Thus, when a rope is paid out to the bitter end, no more remains. [Mid-1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of bitter end

1620–30 in form bitters end; probably bitt + -er ¹ ( def. ), later taken as bitter

Example Sentences

Eric Musselman sat behind a microphone at the bitter end of a bitter regular season for USC, armed only with the same explanations for how a once-hopeful season could come so undone.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026

Carey expected England to fight till the bitter end on Sunday and said he was still not thinking about winning the Ashes.

From Barron's • Dec. 20, 2025

He plans to use his device until the bitter end and isn’t sure what he’ll do when his current devices stop working.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025

Thanks to Gi-hun’s knack for hanging on to the bitter end, we never have to find out what Myung-gi would have done.

From Salon • Jul. 4, 2025

One thing Matthias was certain of as he strode swiftly through the trees: it would be he and he alone who faced Cluny the Scourge at the bitter end.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques