leave it to the end

USAGE SUMMARY

"leave it to the end" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it as a way to indicate that something should not be done or addressed until later. For example, "We should save the decorations for the party until the end; let's just leave it to the end."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Should you leave it to the end of the day when the wooing is in full throw, and risk them guessing what you're up to?

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This resizing business may require adjustment again -- leave it to the end of the chart formatting.. Double-click on the vertical axis and set Scale as follows: Minimum: -.2, Maximum: 1.2; Major Unit 1.2; Minor Unit.2; Horizontal Axis is the only one checked and it crosses at 0.0.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

We're going to see what happens to my body and mind if we get the worst Sunday show out of the way early, rather than leaving it to the end.

Huffington Post

We were able to extract multi-faceted perspectives in the literature and our findings throughout the entire research process rather than leaving it to the end of the project.

BMC Medical Research Methodology

Comedians have already parodied the pat-downs to no end, but leave it to the Internet to incorporate memes into the nation's anxiety over the "intimate" search tactics.

Huffington Post

This hints to a more paternalistic approach with euthanasia leaving it to the physician to take action and end the patients' life rather than the patient ending his own life by taking the lethal medication.

BMC Palliative Care

But as they pass the house, the children's pet dog Scruff goes running up to the house and... Dahl ends, leaving it to the young readers to continue the story.

The Guardian - Books

The final couple of seconds of the shorter spot are fantastic, as it ends just as the maestro is about to launch into the composition he has created and bam, it ends, leaving it to the viewer's imagination.

TechCrunch

And some put off what can be a difficult decision and, by default, end up leaving it to the state.

The Guardian - Money

"So now, as always before, the struggle against judicial excess has ended by leaving it to the justices themselves to correct the errors of the court," he wrote in "The Struggle for Judicial Supremacy".

The New York Times

Leave it to Charles Hurwitz to end up in the middle of yet another bruising battle.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "leave it to the end" when you want to emphasize that delaying a task or decision is a conscious choice, often to build anticipation or gather more information.

Common error

Avoid using "leave it to the end" when the task requires immediate attention or has a strict deadline. Delaying critical tasks can lead to negative consequences.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "leave it to the end" functions as a directive phrase indicating a decision to postpone an action or task until a later time, specifically the end. Ludwig AI confirms this usage with examples showing its application in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "leave it to the end" is a directive suggesting to delay something until the final moment. Ludwig AI confirms it's grammatically correct and usable in a variety of contexts. While it is used in News & Media, Wiki and Science sources, remember to consider if delaying is strategic or detrimental. Be careful not to postpone urgent tasks. Alternatives include phrases like "postpone it until the deadline" or "save it for last" depending on the desired nuance.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

postpone it until the deadline

This alternative suggests delaying something until the last possible moment, similar to the original phrase.

delay it until the final moment

This alternative emphasizes the act of delaying until the very last opportunity.

put it off until later

This is a more general alternative, indicating a deferral without specifying the exact time.

save it for last

This alternative focuses on doing something as the final action in a series.

defer it until the conclusion

This suggests a more formal postponement to the end of a process or period.

hold it back until the finale

This alternative implies keeping something in reserve until the final part of an event or performance.

table it until the end

This is often used in a meeting context, suggesting to postpone a discussion until the end.

reserve it for the culmination

This alternative suggests saving something special for the climax or high point.

keep it for the grand finale

Similar to reserving it, but emphasizing the spectacular nature of the final event.

leave it for the very last

Stresses that it will be done at the absolute last opportunity.

FAQs

How can I use "leave it to the end" in a sentence?

You can use "leave it to the end" to suggest postponing a task until the latest possible moment. For example, "Let's "leave it to the end" to decide on the decorations, so we can see what the overall theme will be."

What does "leave it to the end" mean?

It means to postpone or delay something until the final moment or deadline, often implying a strategic decision to wait before taking action.

What are some alternatives to "leave it to the end"?

Alternatives include phrases like "postpone it until the deadline", "save it for last", or "defer it until the conclusion".

Is it always a good idea to "leave it to the end"?

Not necessarily. While it can be useful for tasks that benefit from waiting, it's important to assess whether delaying could cause problems. Critical tasks should not be pushed aside.