[end in itself] <n. phr.> Something wanted for its own sake; a purpose, aim, or goal we want for itself alone and not as a way to something else. * /The miser never spent his gold because for him it was an end in itself./
[end of one's rope] or [end of one's tether] <n. phr.>, <informal> The end of your trying or imagining; the last of your ability, or ideas of how to do more. * /Frank was out of work and broke, and he was at the end of his rope./ * /The doctor saw that Mother had reached the end of her tether, and told us to send her away for a holiday./ Compare: AT ONE'S WIT'S END, FED UP, UP AGAINST IT, UP A TREE.
[end of the road] or [end of the line] <n. phr.> The final result or end (as of a way of action or behavior); the condition that comes when you can do no more. * /He had left a trail of forgery and dishonesty across seven states; he had got out of each trouble with a new trick. Now the police had caught up with him, and it was the end of the road./ * /"When I get to the end of the line," Jones thought, "I'd like my children to like and respect me still."/
[end run] <n.> A football play in which a back tries to run around one end of the opponent's line. * /Smith's end run scored the winning touchdown./
[end up] <v.> 1. To come to an end; be ended or finished; stop. * /How does the story end up?/ 2. To finally reach or arrive; land. * /I hope you don't end up in jail./ 3. <informal> To die, be killed. * /The gangster ended up in the electric chair./ 4. or [finish up]. To put an end to; finish; stop. * /The politician finally ended up his speech./ Syn.: WIND UP.
[end zone] <n.> Either of the marked areas behind the goal line. * /He caught a pass in the end zone for a touchdown./
[engage in small talk] <v. phr.> To converse with a stranger or casual acquaintance about matters of no great importance in order to make the time go faster. * /The patients in the doctor's waiting room engaged in small talk complaining about the hot weather./
[English] See: BODY ENGLISH.
[enjoy oneself] <v. phr.> To have a good time; be happy; feel pleasure. * /Mary enjoyed herself at the party./ * /"Enjoy yourselves, children," Mother urged the guests at our party./
[enlarge on] or [enlarge upon] or [expand on] or [expand upon] <v.> To talk or write more about; say or explain more completely or at greater length. * /The teacher enlarged on the uses of atomic power./
[en masse] <adv. phr.> As a group; in one big mass or group. - Used after the word it modifies. * /The school turned out en masse to cheer the returning astronaut./
[enough] See: GIVE ONE ENOUGH ROPE, AND HE WILL HANG HIMSELF, KNOW ENOUGH TO COME IN OUT OF THE RAIN, LET WELL ENOUGH ALONE, SURE ENOUGH.
[enough is enough] That's enough, let's not have any more; that will do, let's cut it short; that's the limit, let's stop there. * /"I don't mind good clean fun, but enough is enough," the principal said./
[enterprise] See: FREE ENTERPRISE.
[entry] See: PORT OF ENTRY.
[envy] See: GREEN WITH ENVY.
[equal to] <adj. phr.> Able to meet, do, or control; able to do something about. * /The situation took quick thinking, but John was equal to it./ * /When a guest upset the coffee pot, Mrs. Smith's tact and quickness of mind were equal to the occasion./
[equal to the occasion] <adj. phr.> Capable of handling the situation. * /Although he had never before assisted in childbirth, the taxi driver proved equal to the occasion and helped deliver the baby in his cab./
[error] See: TRIAL AND ERROR.
[evaporate into thin air] See: DISAPPEAR INTO THIN AIR.
[eve] See: ON THE EVE OF.
[even] See: BREAK EVEN, GET EVEN, ON AN EVEN KEEL.
[evening] See: GOOD EVENING.
[even so] <adv.> Although that is true; nevertheless; still. * /The fire was out, but even so, the smell of smoke was strong./
[event] See: IN ANY CASE or AT ALL EVENTS, IN ANY CASE also IN ANY EVENT or AT ALL EVENTS, IN CASE or IN THE EVENT, IN CASE OF also IN THE EVENT OF.
[ever] See: FOREVER AND EVER, HARDLY EVER or SCARCELY EVER.
[ever so much] <adv.> Very much; truly. * /I am ever so much in your debt for your kind assistance when I needed it most./
[every] See: AT EVERY TURN, EACH AND EVERY.
[every cloud has a silver lining] Every trouble has something hopeful that you can see in it, like the bright edge around a dark cloud. - A proverb. * /The doctor told Tommy to cheer up when he had measles. "Every cloud has a silver lining," he said./ Compare: IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY GOOD.
[every dog has his day] Everyone will have his chance or turn; everyone is lucky or popular at some time. - A proverb. * /Mary will be able to go to dances like her sister when she grows up. Every dog has his day./
[every inch] <adv. phr.> To the last part, in every way; completely. * /He was every inch a man./ * /Henry looked every inch a soldier./
[every last] See: EVERY SINGLE.
[every last man] also [every man jack] <n. phr.> Every single man; each man without exception. * /I want every last man to be here on time tomorrow morning./ * /Every man jack of you must do his duty./
[every man jack] See: EVERY LAST MAN.
[every now and then] or [every now and again] or [every so often] or [every once in a while] <adv. phr.> At fairly regular intervals; fairly often; repeatedly. * /John comes to visit me every now and then./ * /It was hot work, but every so often Susan would bring us something cold to drink./ Compare: NOW AND THEN.
[every other] <adj. phr.> Every second; every alternate. * /The milkman comes every other day./ * /On St. Patrick's Day, it seems as if every other man you meet is wearing a shamrock./
[every single] or [every last] <adj. phr.> Every. - Used for emphasis. * /She dropped the box, and when she opened it, every single glass was broken./ * /When she got home she found every last tomato in the box was rotten./ Syn.: EACH AND EVERY.
[every so often] See: EVERY NOW AND THEN.
[everything] See: HOLD IT or HOLD EVERYTHING.
[every time one turns around] <adv. phr.>, <informal> Very often. * /Mr. Winston must be rich. He buys a new suit every time he turns around./ * /No, Charles - I can't drive you to the park every time I turn around./
[every which way] also [any which way] In all directions. * /Bricks and boards were scattered in confusion on the ground every which way, just as they had fallen after the tornado./ Compare HELTER-SKELTER.
[evidence] See: IN EVIDENCE.
[example] See: FOR EXAMPLE, MAKE AN EXAMPLE OF.
[except for] or <formal> [but for] <prep.> 1. With the exception of; if (a certain person or thing) were left out; omitting. * /Except for John, the whole class passed the test./ 2. Without. * /I'd have been lost but for you./
[exception] See: TAKE EXCEPTION TO.
[exception proves the rule] Something unusual that does not follow a rule tests that rule to see if it is true; if there are too many exceptions, the rule is no good. - A proverb. * /Frank is very short but is a good basketball player. He is the exception that proves the rule./
[excuse oneself] <v. phr.> 1. To think of reasons for not being to blame; think yourself not at fault. * /John excused himself for his low grades on the ground that the teacher didn't like him./ 2. To ask to be excused after doing something impolite. * /John excused himself for his tardiness, saying his watch was wrong./ 3. To ask permission to leave a group or place. * /The committee meeting lasted so long that Mr. Wilkins excused himself to keep an appointment./ * /John had to go to the dentist's, so he excused himself and left the classroom./
[exert oneself] <v. phr.> To make an effort; try hard; work hard. * /Susan exerted herself all year to earn good marks./ * /Jerry exerted himself to please the new girl./
[expand on] or [expand upon] See: ENLARGE ON or ENLARGE UPON.