touched the end

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "touched the end" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts where someone or something makes contact with the final part of an object or situation. Example: "As the race concluded, she touched the end of the track, signaling her victory."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

5 human-written examples

When she touched the end of the pool on Saturday night after a close duel with American rival Victoria Arlen, Simmonds couldn't stop the tears flowing.

The Guardian - Sport

Jones made the catch over Brown and then looked down as he made sure he touched the end zone with both feet.

Huffington Post

The gels were run at 2 W/gel for 30 minutes then 8 W/gel until the bromophenol blue dye front just touched the end of the gels.

BMC Plant Biology

The turning technique employed in the no-cones is more representative of a 'touch and turn', where participants touched the end tape with their foot and turned, whereas the cones requires participants to negotiate around the end cone within the 1 m space between the tape at the end (figure 1).

BMJ Open

As described by Ferreira et al. [ 12], rodents performed the incremental load test with an initial intensity of 6 m.min-1 at 0% with increasing increments of 3 m.min-1 every 3 min until exhaustion, which was defined when mice touched the end of the treadmill five times in 1 min. The EV (m.min-1) of mice was used to prescribe the intensities of aerobic training and overtraining protocols.

BMC Physiology

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

As if touch were a form of seeing, we touched the past.

The New York Times - Arts

Thomas Picketty, the French economist whose blockbuster book on soaring wealth inequalities touched the 2014 zeitgeist, talked to a standing-room-only crowd in Copenhagen last week.

The Guardian

To be fair, every hand that touched the 2012 Jets passing game deserved criticism, as Sanchez received almost no support from his teammates or coaches.

The New York Times

The hair touches the spring.

The New Yorker

Mr Ferrara insists he would not touch the 1978 law.

The Economist

When the Times, etc., refused to touch the 1966 story of secret C.I.A. funding of student groups, cultural groups, it was left to Ramparts, a lefty counterculture magazine.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use the phrase "touched the end" when you want to emphasize a physical connection with a boundary or a concluding point. For instance, in sports or physical experiments, this phrase is appropriate.

Common error

Avoid using "touched the end" in purely abstract contexts where a more suitable phrase like "reached a conclusion" or "completed the objective" would be more appropriate. "Touched the end" implies a degree of physicality that may be absent.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "touched the end" primarily functions as a verb phrase, indicating the action of making physical contact with a boundary or limit. Examples in Ludwig show its usage in both literal (swimming, lab experiments) and more figurative contexts.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

40%

Formal & Business

20%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "touched the end" is a grammatically correct and understandable phrase that can be used to describe a physical connection with a boundary or a limit. Ludwig shows that it appears most frequently in news and scientific contexts. While not overly formal, its use is context-dependent, and care should be taken to avoid overusing it in purely abstract situations. Alternatives like "reached the end" or "completed the task" may be more appropriate in certain scenarios. Overall, this phrase is valid and can be very descriptive when used correctly.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

made contact with the boundary

This alternative is more formal and emphasizes the act of physical contact with a defined limit.

came to the end

Focuses on arriving at a terminal point, often in a process or journey.

made it to the end

Focuses on successfully reaching the final stage or point after overcoming challenges.

approached the limit

This alternative highlights the process of getting close to a boundary, not necessarily making contact.

reached the conclusion

This alternative emphasizes arriving at a final decision or judgment, differing from physical contact.

finished the race

This alternative specifies the completion of a race event, focusing on the action of finishing.

hit the finish line

This alternative is specific to races and competitions, suggesting completion.

arrived at the destination

This alternative focuses on reaching a pre-determined endpoint in a journey or process.

completed the task

This alternative emphasizes finishing a piece of work or assignment, not necessarily involving physical touch.

achieved the goal

Highlights the successful attainment of a target or objective.

FAQs

How can I use "touched the end" in a sentence?

You can use "touched the end" to describe physical contact with a boundary, such as "The swimmer "touched the end" of the pool to finish the race" or to describe reaching the limit, such as "The dye "touched the end" of the gels".

What are some alternatives to "touched the end"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "reached the end", "came to the end", or "made contact with the boundary".

Is it correct to say "touched the end" in a formal context?

Yes, "touched the end" is grammatically correct. However, consider the context; more formal phrases like "reached the conclusion" or "completed the task" might be more appropriate in certain formal settings.

What does "touched the end" imply?

"Touched the end" implies a physical contact with a boundary, limit, or concluding point. It suggests a completion or a finality in a physical or metaphorical sense.