loose end

Meanings

nounloose end (plural loose ends)

The end of a rope that has not been fastened.
broadlyidiomaticin pluralA small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved, before a task can be considered complete.

nounwork that is left incomplete

Similar

Broader

Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Hungarian elvarratlan szál

elvarratlan szála small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved

Portuguese ponta solta

ponta soltaa small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved

Spanish cabo suelto

cabo sueltoa small job that needs to be done, or minor problem that needs to be resolved

Cite this entry

APA

loose end. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/loose%20end

MLA

“loose end.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/loose%20end. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “loose end,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/loose%20end.