at the end of one's tether
1
8.5
- idiom
- UK
:
al límite de mi paciencia
- "We are at the end of our tether, and now or never our deliverance must come."
- reached the end of my tether
- at the end of my tether now
- find myself at the end of my tether
Examples
-
A doomed nonagenarian is reaching the end of his tether.
Fiction book (1993) -
I am at the end of my tether.
-
I'm at the end of my tether.
-
He recognized that his mother had reached the end of her tether.
Fiction book (1990) -
Now I'm at the end of my tether, and you're going to have to move your ass if you want my testimony in court.
Fiction book (1994) -
Everything she wore, including her camisole, petticoats, and drawers, had been carefully mended in a stalwart effort to hide the evidence of long use, and although she still felt as though she'd reached the end of her tether, an innate sense of dignity sustained her.
Fiction book (2001) -
After dealing with the constant noise from his neighbors, he finally felt like he was at the end of his tether.
-
She was at the end of her tether after trying to fix the same issue for hours.
-
When the project kept getting delayed, the team members found themselves at the end of their tether.
Synonyms
37
3.9
The moment when a person or thing can no longer handle pressure
15
7.7
Very close to failure or defeat with little chance to recover
12
7.7
To reach a point where you cannot continue because you are very tired or stuck
11
7.5
You are unable to deal with something because you have no patience or energy
7
7.2
Being very tired or worn out and about to break down
5
7.4
Someone who has no more patience because of many annoying things
1
6.3
To reach a stage when a person cannot continue and must make a big change
Antonyms
How Stressed
37
3.9
- UK
1
8.5
2
5.1
310
3.6
735
1.0
Surface Forms
Morphology
at + the + end + of + one + tether
The phrase combines a literal spatial image — 'end' (limit) + 'tether' (a rope that restricts movement) — to convey having reached one's limit. This is a metaphorical but fairly direct extension of the constituent meanings, so a learner who knows both words can often infer 'unable to cope', although the idiomatic use may still require some exposure.
Etymology
The idiom at the end of one's tether comes from the image of an animal tied with a short rope: a tether is the rope, and when the animal reaches the end it cannot move any further. So being at the end of one's tether means you have reached your 'limit' of patience or energy and cannot cope any longer.