butt end

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The thick, blunt or heavy end of something such as a rifle, a tool handle or a piece of meat.

   Grammar: Usually singular with the: the butt end of the club.

   Patterns

   • the butt end of something

   He tapped the nail with the butt end of the screwdriver.

   The butcher cut the butt end of the ham for stew.

   The guard rested the butt end of the rifle on the ground.

2. 2nounsingularinformal

   The last or least valuable part of something that is left over.

   Grammar: Usually singular and followed by of: the butt end of the day.

   Patterns

   • the butt end of something

   We arrived at the butt end of the sale and found nothing left.

   He got the butt end of the deal, with all the work and little pay.

   They were chatting at the butt end of the evening.

Word forms

Common combinations

the butt end of a rifle

He struck the door with the butt end of a rifle.

the butt end of a cigarette

The butt end of the cigarette was on the ground.

the butt end of a pool cue

Players rest the butt end of the pool cue on the floor.

the butt end of the joke

I was the butt end of the joke.

cut off the butt end

Cut off the butt end of the roast.

Synonyms and how they differ

stub

It is a short leftover piece, such as of a pencil or ticket, rather than a thick end.

handle end

It describes a position on a tool, whereas butt end focuses on its thickness.

remainder

It is a neutral word for what is left, and lacks the idea of a blunt end.

Opposites

Word family

butt noun

the thicker end of a tool or weapon, or a cigarette end

butt verb

to hit with the head

rifle butt noun

the end of a gun's stock

Commonly confused: butt end or but end?

Practice

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Write a sentence using “butt end”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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