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You are here: Home / Language / What Does the Phrase “Loose Ends” Mean and Where Did the Term Come From?

What Does the Phrase “Loose Ends” Mean and Where Did the Term Come From?

May 9, 2020 by Karen Hill

The origin of this phrase is nautical and refers to the ends of the countless number of ropes on early sailing ships.

These “ends” needed to be bound tightly to prevent unravelling, which could cause disaster at sea.

Whenever a captain noticed that his men had too much time on their hands, which could lead to trouble, he would order them to check the ropes and repair any “loose ends.”

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Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

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