Starting/Finishing Flashcards
Begin vs. Start
Begin is a little more formal
No difference in meaning
Encouraging start
Promising start
A good start
The soccer team got off to a promising start, winning the first four games of the season.
My son got a job working directly under a prominent businessman. It’s a very promising start to his career.
Get off to a good start
Announce the beginning of an activity
The soccer team got off a promising start, winning the first four games of the season.
Shaky start
Unsteady start
If it is not so certain that there will be good results in the future, then you can say a shaky start or unsteady start.
The business had a shaky start in the second quarter of 2013, with sales numbers fluctuating slightly.
The negotiations got off to a shaky start, as neither side was willing to even consider the other’s proposal.
Disappointing start
Disastrous start
If the beginning of something did not meet expectations, you can call it a disappointing start - and if it was really terrible, you can describe it as a disastrous start.
Kevin failed every single one of his first exams - his semester was off to a disastrous start.
It rained continuously for the first three days we were in Miami - a bit of a disappointing start to our vacation.
Fresh start
New begining
Sometimes things go so badly that you need to get out of the situation and have a completely fresh start or new beginning.
I like moving to a new city because you can make a fresh start.
Humble/modest beginning
When a successful person or company started without being famous or rich, then we say they had a humble/modest beginning.
Finish vs. end
Finish usually implies completing something, whereas end is used for a more passive situation/state.
The semester ends in December.
We need to finish the project.
We ended our partnership with company.
Put the finishing touches on it
When you make the final changes to something it is completed, we say you put the finishing touches on it.
The artist put the finishing touches on her painting.
The beginning of the end
To describe something that will probably end soon
The explosion at the factory was the beginning of the end for our company.
In other words, the explosion began a process of the company falling and eventually shutting down.
Abrupt/sudden end
When something ends quickly, then it comes to an abrupt/sudden end.
The back injury put a sudden end to his tennis career.
No end in sight
When an activity appears that it will continue forever, then w say there’s no end in the sight.
There seems to be no end in sight to the country’s political conflicts.
Draw to a close
Come to an end
As the concert drew to a close, the lead singer thanked the fans for their support.
Come to an end
Our kids are sad that their summer vacation is coming to an end.
