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a light at the end of the tunnel

noun phrase

Definition of a light at the end of the tunnel

: a reason to believe that a bad situation will end soon or that a long and difficult job will be finished soon
  • They are falling deeper into debt, and there is no light at the end of the tunnel.
  • The work on our house has been going on for months, but we're finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

Word by Word Definitions

light play

  1. : something that makes vision possible

  2. : the sensation aroused by stimulation of the visual receptors

  3. : electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength that travels in a vacuum with a speed of 299,792,458 meters (about 186,000 miles) per second

  1. : having light : bright

  2. : not dark, intense, or swarthy in color or coloring : pale

  3. : medium in saturation and high in lightness

  1. : to become light : brighten

  2. : to take fire

  3. : to ignite something (such as a cigarette)

  1. : having little weight : not heavy

  2. : designed to carry a comparatively small load

  3. : having relatively little weight in proportion to bulk

  1. : lightly

  2. : with little baggage

  1. : dismount

  2. : settle, alight

  3. : to fall unexpectedly

See the full definition of light
end play

  1. : the part of an area that lies at the boundary

  2. : a point that marks the extent of something

  3. : the point where something ceases to exist

  1. : to bring to an end

  2. : destroy

  3. : to make up the end of

  1. : final, ultimate

  1. : to put (grain or hay) into a barn or stack

  1. : within : inside — compare ect-, exo-

  2. : taking in

See the full definition of end
tunnel play

  1. : a covered passageway

  2. : a subterranean gallery (as in a mine)

  3. : burrow

  1. : to make or use a tunnel

  2. : to pass through a potential barrier

  3. : to make a tunnel or similar opening through or under

See the full definition of tunnel

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