In sight means visible: there was no bus in sight, not a single one anywhere. Figuratively, it means close: with two rooms left, the end is in sight. No end in sight means it seems to go on forever. To become visible is come into sight.
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be or keep something + in sight / come into sight / no end in sight
- Keep the orange marker in sight as you cross the field.
- With only two rooms left to paint, the end is finally in sight.
- There was no bus in sight, so we walked to the next stop.
What changed
First versionWith only two rooms left to paint, the end is in the sight.
RevisionWith only two rooms left to paint, the end is in sight.
Sight feels like a specific thing here, so the slips in: in the sight. But the phrase has no article: in sight, out of sight. The end is in sight means the job isn't over yet, but the finish is close.
Out of sight means not visible. On sight means as soon as someone is seen: recognise someone on sight. Sights in the plural are places tourists visit: see the sights of Rome.
Your turn
Choose the phrase for becoming visible: The station came ___ sight as we rounded the hill.
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into — The station appeared from behind the hill: that's a change to being visible, so into: come into sight. Come to sight isn't used.
Describe a long task that's finally nearly done and say what's left, using the end is in sight.
Only the final chapter needs editing, so the end is in sight.
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