laɪt æt ðə ɛnd əv ðə ˈtʌnəl
Nature & Weather
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Illumination visible at a tunnel's exit
What does "light at the end of the tunnel" mean?
- Hope that a difficult situation is nearing its end
- Signs that things are about to improve
Examples
- After months of struggling, we're finally seeing light at the end of the tunnel.
- The improving sales figures are light at the end of the tunnel.
- Hold on—there's light at the end of the tunnel.
Origin
The experience of traveling through a dark tunnel and seeing light appear as you approach the exit—a literal sign that the darkness is ending.
How to use it
Encouraging expression for difficult times. Implies improvement is coming.
Similar expressions
hope
end in sight
turning point
Opposites
no end in sight
hopeless
endless darkness
Related idioms
- out of the blue
Unexpectedly; without warning
- beat around the bush
To avoid talking about the main point of a conversation
- every cloud has a silver lining
There is something positive in every negative situation
- go with the flow
To accept things as they are and adapt accordingly
- once in a blue moon
Very rarely; almost never
- tip of the iceberg
A small visible part of a much larger hidden problem
Use it in a practice answer
Try "light at the end of the tunnel" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.