receiving end
20
4.4
- noun
- Informal
:
receptor
- After making a blunder during the presentation, he found himself on the receiving end of harsh criticism from his colleagues.
You've been at the receiving end of the worst of it.
- You've been at the receiving end of the worst of it.
- Now that's not to say that people on the receiving end of benign neglect are OK with it.
- And if you've been on the receiving end of roadside bombs and snipers, it's horrifying.
- They've never been taught this is this is what it's like to be on the receiving end of this.
- When you are on the receiving end of everything you've talked about, long term ain't a thing.
- That's a pretty darn problematic policy position if you are on the receiving end of that violence or abuse.
- I'm sure we'll be on the receiving end of some some responses both tepid and enthusiastic.
- As a grown up man, since I left school, I have never, ever been on the receiving end of any form of homophobic abuse in real life.
- There is also a deep need for Russians to discuss the effect the empire has had on those at the receiving end.
- I'm so lucky to be able to be on the receiving end of messages and, you know, stories of, you know, transformation.
- But when you know the people on the receiving end of unjust war, overwhelming firepower from bullies, it breaks my heart.
- I refuse to be on the receiving end of any of the mean, evil and disrespectful things that you just decide you want to unleash on me.
- So I am I am on feeling on the receiving end of your upset.
Examples
-
I know exactly what she's feeling now, having been on the receiving end of overzealous friends once or twice myself.
Fiction book (2000) -
Anyone who has been on the receiving end of this kind of behavior knows how devastating it can be.
Academic text (1997) -
We have all at one time or another been at the receiving end of advice.
Blog text (4) -
And now I'm on the receiving end.
-
And for the first time in my life, I'm on the receiving end of charity.
Blog text (10) -
Rarely is the citizen on the receiving end of expanded rights and personal freedom.
Academic text (2009) -
I was working in a senior management position and found myself on the receiving end of bullying behavior by my immediate boss.
Academic text (2015) -
But when one looks at those who are at the receiving end of these achievements, it is natural to develop doubts.
Academic text (2000) -
You've been at the receiving end of the worst of it.
-
It must be hard to be on the receiving end of that.
Synonyms
300
3.7
A person or organization that gets something
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
The verb 'receiving' clearly signals someone who gets or experiences something, so a learner can infer the phrase refers to the person who receives an action, but 'end' is used non-literally to mean 'side' or 'position' rather than a final segment. Because understanding depends on recognizing this metaphorical use of 'end' and the idiomatic prepositional pattern ('on the receiving end of'), the expression is only partially predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Receiving end The phrase receiving end comes from a simple picture: imagine people in a line passing a box and the last person — the end — is the one receiving it. That's why being 'on the receiving end' means you are the person who gets an action, often criticism or a problem.