🧵 Worn-out tip 🌙 Final part

fag end

9.9

The last small part of something often thought less important

noun
/fæɡ ɛnd/

: parte final

By the fag end of the party, only a few tired guests remained.

Examples

We're now in the fag end of the negotiations, but there are still a few points left to discuss.
The fag end of the project was poorly executed.
The company was founded in the fag end of the nineteenth century.
He only read the fag end of the book.
By the fag end of the party, only a few tired guests remained.
We're now in the fag end of the negotiations, but there are still a few points left to discuss.
The fag end of the project was poorly executed, leading to unsatisfactory results.

Synonyms

end

vsfag end

∞ 1.0

The final part of something, like an event or story

is that concluding part but viewed as lower quality or trivial

ending

vsfag end

398 1.0

The final part of something, like an event, story, or relationship

is the same conclusion but often seen as unimportant or poor

finale

vsfag end

180 3.6

The last, most exciting part of a show or event

is the closing part felt as unimportant or of lower quality

tail

vsfag end

70 2.0

The last part of a period or event

is the later portion regarded as inferior or insignificant

end of the line

vsfag end

47 4.1

The point when something stops or finishes

is that stopping point when it seems insignificant or inferior

finish

vsfag end

39 1.0

The final part of an event or activity

is that completion when it feels minor or of low quality

tail end

vsfag end

13 3.5

The last part of something, especially a period or event

is that last part seen as less important or low quality

termination

vsfag end

3 5.5

The end point of something like a road or tunnel

is that neutral formal conclusion rather than a small useless remnant

tag end

vsfag end

7.3

A small piece left at the very end of cloth or ribbon

is the last part regarded as unimportant or lower quality

Antonyms

beginning

∞ 1.0

The first part of something when it starts

start

∞ 1.0

The time or place when something begins

Surface Forms

fag end singular

fag ends plural

Morphology

fag + end

The literal composition ('fag' = cigarette + 'end' = end) transparently yields the sense 'cigarette butt', so a learner who knows both words can infer the basic meaning. However, the common figurative extension to 'the final/least important part' is a metaphorical, dialect-specific extension (British) and not fully predictable without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Fag end was later used for the small leftover end of an event or time, the bits left at the finish. Because people saw that worn tail as less important, it came to mean the 'final part' or 'leftover' of something.