the light at the end of the tunnel
Meaning: A sign that a long, difficult period is ending.
Language: English
Literally: (Already vivid in English)
Example: “With the last exam next week, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.”
Category: Nature
Origin: The image is of a traveler in a dark tunnel seeing daylight ahead. The phrase is common from the 20th century.
Equivalents in other languages
- Polish: światełko w tunelu — literally: small light in a tunnel
- French: Le bout du tunnel — literally: The end of the tunnel
More idioms — Nature
- be in clover — To live in comfort and luxury.
- go downhill — To get steadily worse.
- clear as day — Completely obvious.
- grow like wildfire — To spread very fast.
- blow me down — An exclamation of complete surprise.
- be over the moon — Absolutely delighted.
More English idioms
- at full tilt — At full speed or with full force.
- my bad — My mistake; sorry.
- freeze one's butt off — To be extremely cold.
- drive someone up the wall — To annoy someone intensely.
- right up one's alley — Exactly suited to someone's interests or skills.
- have the luck of the devil — To be extraordinarily lucky.
From our compliments & insults
- ¡Qué cara más dura! — You've got incredible nerve and cheek — the audacity is almost impressive.
- Es un/una pesado/a — A dreadful bore — their company feels like carrying extra weight.
- Más terco/a que una mula — Hopelessly obstinate — no argument, fact, or force of nature will shift their position.