Light at the end of the tunnel means a long, difficult period is coming to an end, and things are visibly getting better. Only two of ten rooms are left to repair: we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. You haven't finished yet, but there's hope. It often comes with finally: there's finally light at the end of the tunnel.
When would you say light at the end of the tunnel?
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see the light at the end of the tunnel; there is light at the end of the tunnel
- With only two rooms left to repair, we could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
- The first successful rehearsal was a light at the end of the tunnel after months of setbacks.
- There is finally light at the end of the tunnel: the last boxes arrive tomorrow.
What changed
First versionWe could see the light in the end of the tunnel.
RevisionWe could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
In the end is such a common phrase that in slips in here too. But in the end means finally, after everything. For the end of the tunnel as a place, English uses at: at the end of the tunnel. In was replaced with at.
A silver lining is the bright side of a bad situation, even if it isn't ending: The silver lining is that I had time to read. Light at the end of the tunnel is specifically about the hard times coming to an end. The end is in sight means the same, but sounds more neutral.
Your turn
After weeks of repairs, there was light ___ the end of the tunnel.
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at — For the place at the end of the tunnel, English says at the end. In the end means finally, and it doesn't fit here.
Write about a long, hard task, like a renovation, an exam period or a move, when you finally saw the end of it.
With just the index left to check, we could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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