beginning of the end, the
beginning of the end
1. The start of a decline. We didn't realize it at the time, but not having any interest in Valentine's Day was the beginning of the end for us—we broke up a month later. We all rushed to grandpa's bedside after his nurse warned us that it was the beginning of the end.
2. The first in a series of closing events. Senior prom is really the beginning of the end—graduation isn't that far away anymore.
See also: beginning, end, of
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
beginning of the end, the
The start of a bad outcome (ruin, disaster, catastrophe, death), as in Joe's failing two of his courses was the beginning of the end; he dropped out soon afterward . This phrase, at first (16th century) used only to describe an approaching death, gained a new meaning after the French lost the battle of Leipzig in 1813 and Talleyrand said to Napoleon, "C'est le commencement de la fin" ("It's the beginning of the end").
See also: beginning, of
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
- beginning of the end
- beginning of the end, (this is) the
- the beginning of the end
- open (one's) eyes to (someone or something)
- open eyes to
- open one's eyes
- open someone's eyes
- open your eyes
- open eyes
- open (one's) eyes