Hear/see the last of somebody/something
idiom
To not encounter or have to deal with someone or something anymore.
I moved to a different city hoping I'd seen the last of him, but I ran into him at a grocery store.
Often appears as...
- haven't heard the last of
- haven't seen the last of
Usage tips
Colloquial
idiom
Something has ended or is over.
When I finished paying my student loans, I knew I had seen the last of them.
Often appears as...
- had seen the last of
- heard the last of
idiom
Not done dealing with the consequences or fallout of a situation or individual's actions.
Even after the trial, it felt like we had not heard the last of the scandal.
Often appears as...
- haven't heard the last of
- haven't seen the last of
Usage tips
Disapproving
idiom
To not encounter or have to deal with someone or something anymore.
I moved to a different city hoping I'd seen the last of him, but I ran into him at a grocery store.
Often appears as...
- haven't heard the last of
- haven't seen the last of
Usage tips
Colloquial
idiom
Something has ended or is over.
When I finished paying my student loans, I knew I had seen the last of them.
Often appears as...
- had seen the last of
- heard the last of
idiom
Not done dealing with the consequences or fallout of a situation or individual's actions.
Even after the trial, it felt like we had not heard the last of the scandal.
Often appears as...
- haven't heard the last of
- haven't seen the last of
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Expectation of End
Used when you hope to not deal with something again, but it's uncertain.
She transferred schools, believing she'd seen the last of her bullies.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Ironic
May be used ironically when something unwanted keeps reappearing.
Just when I thought I'd heard the last of that song, it played again.
Pro Tip 3/3Personal Relief
Expresses personal relief at the end of an unwelcome situation.
After the noisy construction ended, residents hoped they'd seen the last of the disruption.
Pro Tip 1/3Expectation of End
Used when you hope to not deal with something again, but it's uncertain.
She transferred schools, believing she'd seen the last of her bullies.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Ironic
May be used ironically when something unwanted keeps reappearing.
Just when I thought I'd heard the last of that song, it played again.
Pro Tip 3/3Personal Relief
Expresses personal relief at the end of an unwelcome situation.
After the noisy construction ended, residents hoped they'd seen the last of the disruption.
Pro Tip 1/3Expectation of End
Used when you hope to not deal with something again, but it's uncertain.
She transferred schools, believing she'd seen the last of her bullies.
Pro Tip 2/3Often Ironic
May be used ironically when something unwanted keeps reappearing.
Just when I thought I'd heard the last of that song, it played again.
Pro Tip 3/3Personal Relief
Expresses personal relief at the end of an unwelcome situation.
After the noisy construction ended, residents hoped they'd seen the last of the disruption.
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