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the end of the line
01
the point at which making further progress becomes nearly impossible
Idiom
What is the origin of the idiom "the end of the line" and when to use it?
The idiom "the end of the line" is believed to have originated in the 19th century, when trains were the primary mode of transportation. When a train reached the end of the line, it could not go any further. Over time, the phrase came to be used in a figurative sense to describe any situation that is at its conclusion.
Examples
Without new investors, the startup had reached the end of the road.
