Wind up

Meaning

The idiom "wind up" is often used to describe the process of winding up a clock or winding up a rope, but it can also be used figuratively to mean to complete or finish something.

Figuratively, "wind up" means to bring something to an end or complete a task or project.

Usage

• I spent all day working on my project and now I need to wind it up before I can go home.
• She wound up her presentation with a strong conclusion that left the audience stunned.
• The company's financial troubles have been ongoing for years, but they finally managed to wind up their debts.
• He wanted to wind up his vacation early so he could go back to work and catch up on some lost time.
• We had a great time at the party, but we had to wind it up before our parents got home. The usage of "wind up" can vary depending on the context. In some cases, it may be used to imply a positive outcome or resolution, while in others it may suggest a negative or undesirable result.

Roots and History

The idiom "wind up" has been in use since at least the 15th century. It originally referred to the process of winding up a clock or other timekeeping device. Over time, the figurative meaning of "wind up" developed, and it began to be used more generally to describe the act of completing something. The idiom has no known cultural or regional variations.

Synonyms in English

• wind down
• complete
• finish
• close
• end

Synonyms in other languages

• French: terminer (to finish)
• Spanish: acabar (to end)
• German: beenden (to terminate)
• Italian: chiudere (to close)
• Portuguese: encerrar (to terminate)

Similar Idioms

• don’t give up the day job

• wild goose chase

• up to the mark