living end, the

the living end

The most exceptional, superlative, or extreme example of something. The phrase can be used both positively and negatively. When I was a teenager, I saw that band at least 20 times. I just thought they were the living end! If she is so mad at me that she won't come to my wedding, then that is the living end!
See also: end, living
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

living end, the

The utmost in any situation, something quite extraordinary, as in When he threw the stereo out the window-well, that was the living end! or That performance was the living end. [Colloquial; late 1930s]
See also: living
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
See also:
  • living end
  • the living end
  • be the living end
  • a real doozy
  • a doozy
  • doosie
  • doosies
  • doozie
  • doozy
  • of its kind
References in periodicals archive
With a line-up comprising The Damned's Captain Sensible, Mike Peters of The Alarm, Stray Cat Slim Jim Phantom and Chris Cheney of The Living End, the potential is apparent and seeing how these icons gelled musically and on a personal level makes one wonder why they never got around to it much sooner.
With a line up comprising The Damned's Captain Sensible, Mike Peters of The Alarm, Stray Cat Slim Jim Phantom and Chris Cheney of The Living End, the potential is apparent and seeing how these icons gelled musically and on a personal level makes one wonder why they never got around to it much sooner.
In fact, it's so well-crafted--with the kind of rich characterizations and mature storytelling that Araki's nervy early films (The Living End, The Doom Generation) mocked rather than aspired to--that it should open up a world of opportunities for its auteur.