end up doing

end up (by) (doing something)

1. To take some course of action, perhaps reluctantly. Thanks to bad weather, we ended up by leaving our beach house ahead of schedule.
2. To conclude something with a particular action. Well, as usual, our family ended up by having a big fight after Thanksgiving dinner.
See also: end, up
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

end up (by) doing something

 and wind up (by) doing something 
1. . to conclude something by doing something. We ended up by going back to my house. They danced until midnight and wound up by having pizza in the front room.
2. to end by doing something [anyway]. I wound up by going home early.
See also: end, up
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • end with
  • end with (something)
  • thanks to
  • thanks to somebody/something
  • thanks
  • you shouldn't have
  • thanks be
  • thanks a million
  • run its course, to
  • run/take its course
References in periodicals archive
This is even reflected in our choice of heroes, Fallows asserts: "Most of our national myths are about people who won't listen to others and end up doing what supposedly can't be done.
The Silent War: Inside the Global Business Battles Shaping America's Future