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Glite Dictionary
to get on the end

to get on the end

1 2.7
To go to the end of a line or row and be the last person
  • phrasal verb
translation icon : ponerse al final
  • But it was to get even worse for Tottenham - perhaps mentally already in the dressing room, Olivier Giroud was allowed to get in between William Gallas and Jan Vertonghen, getting on the end of Cazorla's cross to make it 3-1.

Examples

  • Lines go out around the hotel; I am late, I get on the end of the shortest one and go with it like the tail of a rattler.

    Fiction book (1991)

  • Howard Webb was left with no alternative but to send him off, and Tottenham began to suffer immediately, with Per Mertesacker atoning for his earlier error by venturing forward and getting on the end of Theo Walcott's cross to tie up proceedings.

    Blog text (9)

  • You want me to get on the end of the line, huh, Mr. Security?

    Combat Shock (1986)

  • I just wanted to be alert and dangerous in the box when the ball came in, and I was able to get on the end of it.

    Blog text (10)

  • In the end, Theo Walcott restored the gloss on the scoreline, taking advantage of Spurs giving the ball away to get on the end of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's center.

    Blog text (9)

  • You should always get on the end of the line to ensure you don't lose your place.

  • At the concert, I decided to get on the end of the queue since I arrived late.

  • When the bus arrived, I hurried to get on the end of the line and waited for my turn.

Synonyms

to stand in line
vsto get on the end
  • US
76 1.7

To wait in a line of people for your turn

means joining specifically as the last person rather than just waiting anywhere
to queue
vsto get on the end
  • UK
20 3.4

To form or join a line while waiting

is about joining specifically at the final place in that group
to bring up the rear
vsto get on the end
7 4.6

To be the last person or thing in a group that is moving

refers to taking the final place by joining at the back
to queue up
vsto get on the end
  • UK
3 3.1

To wait in a line to buy something or enter a place

denotes taking the final position as the last arrival
to get on the end of the queue
vsto get on the end
  • UK
2.9

Join the back of a line of people waiting

has identical meaning but uses shorter phrasing

Surface Forms

get on the end infinitive
getting on the end present participle
gets on the end third person singular
got on the end past
gotten on the end past participle

Morphology

get + on + the + end

The meaning 'take a position at the end of a line' is directly derivable from the constituents: 'get' (move/arrive), 'on' (indicating position), and 'end' (final position). This is a straightforward verb + preposition + noun locative composition found cross-linguistically, so a B1 learner who knows the words should be able to infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

The phrasal verb get on the end comes from the simple image of walking up to a line or bench and putting yourself at the very last spot, where get on means to join and end is the last place. That's why it means 'to take the last position'.