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The Learning Kingdom's Cool Word of the Day for June 24, 1999
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to the bitter end
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If you hang on to the bitter end, you are extending your efforts
without giving up, even if it means you keep trying until you ultimately
fail. Example: "Although he was limping on a sprained ankle and last in
the race, Hugh kept running right to the bitter end."
Although the end of one's efforts may be bitter, the original phrase was
a nautical expression that had nothing to do with bitterness.
On a ship, the bollards (posts) on which cables are wound are called bitts,
a bitter is one turn of the cable around the bitt, and the bitter end is
the last loop of cable. If a cable is let out to the bitter end, then
there is no more slack, and the ship could be damaged by a large swell or
rough weather. On a ship, it's best not to go to the bitter end.
An introduction to 19th century sailing ships:
http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/lis5937/spring96/ncindex.html
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