come to a bad/sticky end

come to a bad end

1. To suffer an unpleasant death. The poor victims in that bus accident came to a bad end.
2. To reach an unpleasant or problematic final state. My cell phone came to a bad end when I accidentally ran it over with my car.
See also: bad, come, end

come to a sticky end

To experience an unpleasant death, usually as a result of one's own actions. Primarily heard in UK, Australia. The serial purse snatcher came to a sticky end when he encountered a little old lady trained in karate. You will come to a sticky end if you don't change your reckless ways.
See also: come, end, sticky
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

come to a bad end

Fig. to have a disaster, perhaps one that is deserved or expected; to die an unfortunate death. My old car came to a bad end. Its engine seized up. The dishonest merchant came to a bad end.
See also: bad, come, end
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

come to a sticky end

BRITISH or

come to a bad end

If someone comes to a sticky end or comes to a bad end, they die in an unpleasant or violent way. Arminius also came to a sticky end, murdered by his own troops. Hassan comes to a bad end, but so does almost everyone else in the book.
See also: come, end, sticky
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.

come to a bad/sticky ˈend

(informal) finish in an unpleasant way; finish by having something unpleasant happen to you, usually because of your own actions: The neighbours used to shake their heads at his behaviour and say that he’d come to a bad end.
See also: bad, come, end, sticky
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary
See also:
  • come to a bad end
  • have an accident
  • in for
  • be in for
  • be in for something
  • a sad state (of affairs)
  • a sorry state (of affairs)
  • horse and rabbit stew
  • learn (something) the hard way
  • learn the hard way