the tail end of something

tail end (of something)

1. The rearmost part of something. Don't hold your breath—you're at the tail end of the list of applications.
2. The last or concluding part of something. The famous author only appeared at the tail end of the panel.
See also: end, tail
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

the tail end of something

The tail end of something is the last part of it. He listened to the tail end of a discussion about the new virus. It was the tail end of another year.
See also: end, of, something, tail
Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed.
See also:
  • the tail end
  • strike at the heart of (something)
  • strike at the root of
  • strike at the root of (something)
  • want no part in/of (something)
  • bear the brunt, to
  • sit back and let (something happen)
  • sit back and let happen
  • be part and parcel of (something)
  • be part and parcel of something
References in periodicals archive
I didn't feel like I had my own position yet, and I didn't want to be the tail end of something. So it took most of the '70s, student times and after, to work out something that wasn't too heavily influenced.