"To the Bitter End" Idiom Meaning, Origin & History | Superduper English Idioms
Channel: Superduper English Idioms
Date: 2021-06-24

0:00 - How to Say, “... to the bitter end.”
0:24 - Examples of “... to the bitter end.”
1:06 - Meaning of “... to the bitter end.”
1:45 - Origin of “... to the bitter end.”
3:53 - More Examples of “... to the bitter end.”
4:33 - Conclusion

“... to the bitter end.”

If someone says that they’ll do something “to the bitter end”, it means that though it’s unpleasant, disagreeable, displeasing, they’ll see it through to completion, resolution, finish.

“We will fight this war to the bitter end. We shall preserve our freedom,” a military commander might tell his troops.

Maybe your latest business venture failed and you’re thanking your wife, “Thanks for supporting me to the bitter end; it was tough, but I learned a lot.”

“I’ll fight these accusations to the bitter end,” a politician might be saying after being suspected of receiving bribes.

As you can see, doing something “to the bitter end”, means seeing it through, plugging away at it, hanging in there until it is finally done, over, finito - no matter how unbearable, irksome or distressing.

The idiom, “to the bitter end”, seems logical enough; after all, if something is bitter, it is “a hard pill to swallow”, undesirable, to be avoided…

… however, “the bitter end” is actually a seafaring, maritime, nautical expression. You see, “bitts” are a pair of posts attached to a ship or wharf which rope or cable can be wound around...

… in order to moor, anchor, secure a ship. Thus, paying out or extending a rope or cable “to the bitter end” originally meant to draw it out to the longest length possible.

Whether or not someone knows the origin of “to the bitter end”, it is a very descriptive idiom, bringing to mind unpleasant bitterness and yet the need to see something to the end.

In your own life, there are often things that you need to do or see to the bitter end, because once over, the benefit, satisfaction or effect are well worth it.

In Taiwan, sticking with things that you may not enjoy is a badge of honour, and they would encourage you to “fight to the end”.

You’d be motivated to continue “‘till the end, in spite of difficulties,” in India and Pakistan.

In Quebec, France and Belgium, you might hear people pledge to “do it to the heartbreaking end.”

“You started this project, you have to see it through to the bitter end,” your partner might be saying.

Perhaps a family member is undergoing treatment for cancer, “Stay strong, we’ll be here for you, until the bitter end.”

“We need to fight for our rights to the bitter end!” a protest leader might be rallying everyone.

So, the next time you face an unpleasant, depressing, uncomfortable situation - but one that’s important to get through, undergo, complete - be sure to hang in there, stay the course, persevere “to the bitter end”.

#superduperenglishidioms #englishidioms #idioms #proverbs

References: https://www.businessballs.com/glossaries-and-terminology/cliches-and-expressions-of-origin/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitts

https://hindi.oneindia.com/dictionary/to-the-bitter-end-meaning-in-hindi/

https://www.linguee.com/english-french/translation/until+the+bitter+end.html