get hold of the wrong end of the stick Definition

end
noun

1. The point or part farthest from the beginning, or either of the points or parts farthest from the middle, where something stops.
2. A finish or conclusion.

Thesaurus: conclusion, outcome, result, resolution, upshot, consequence, effect, pay-off, expiration, completion, termination, adjournment, close, denouement, finish, finis, finale; Antonym: beginning, opening, start.
3. colloq
The last straw; the limit.
Form: the end
4. A piece left over.

Example: a cigarette end
5. Death or destruction.

Example: meet one's end
6. An object or purpose.

Example: The end justifies the means
Thesaurus: purpose, goal, aim, objective, object, intention, reason, aspiration.
7. sport.
One of the two halves of a pitch or court defended by a team or player, etc.
8. The part of a project, etc for which one is responsible.

Example: had a few problems at their end

verb, tr & intr ended, ending

1. To finish or cause something to finish.

Thesaurus: finish, stop, quit, close, halt, conclude, discontinue, cease, abort, drop, call it a day; Antonym: begin, start.
intr
2. To reach a conclusion or cease to exist.

Derivative: ended

Brought to an end.

Note: in compounds
Having ends of a specified kind.

Idiom: at a loose end

With nothing to do.

Idiom: at an end

Terminated, discontinued or exhausted.

Idiom: at the end of one's tether

Exasperated; at the limit of one's endurance.

Idiom: at the end of the day

colloq
When everything has been taken into account.

Idiom: be the end of someone

colloq
To bring about their death.

Idiom: end it all

colloq
To kill oneself.

Idiom: end of story

colloq
That's that.

Idiom: end on (end to end with ends touching.)

With the end pointing towards one.

Idiom: get hold of the wrong end of the stick

To misunderstand.

Idiom: get one's end away (have one's end away)

slang
To have sexual intercourse.

Idiom: in the end

Finally; after much discussion or work, etc.

Idiom: keep one's end up (hold one's end up)

colloq
To fulfil one's promises or obligations in spite of difficulties.

Idiom: make ends meet

To live within one's income and avoid debts.
Thesaurus: survive, subsist, budget, estimate, manage.

Idiom: no end

colloq
Very much.
Example: His visit pleased her no end

Idiom: no end of people (no end of things)

Very many; a lot.

Idiom: on end

Vertical; standing straight up.

Continuously; without a pause.

Idiom: put an end to something

To make it stop, usually completely and permanently.

Idiom: the end of the road

The point beyond which one cannot continue or survive.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon ende.

Phrasal Verb: end up

To arrive or find oneself eventually or finally.
Example: We ended up in Manchester
To finish.

Phrasal Verb: end up as something

To become (a specified thing) finally.

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stick¹
noun

1a. A twig or thin branch of a tree;

Thesaurus: branch, twig, stem, stalk.
1b. colloq
The small hurdles of a steeplechase.
Form: sticks
2a. Any long thin piece of wood;
2b. A shaped piece of wood or other material which has a designated purpose;

Example: hockey stick
Example: gear stick
2c. A baton or wand, etc;
2d. A bow for a fiddle or the wooden part of a bow.
3. A long thin piece of anything.
4. A piece of furniture, especially when it is one of few.
5. colloq
Verbal abuse, criticism or mockery.
6. colloq
A rural area that is considered remote or unsophisticated.
Form: the sticks
7. colloq
A person.
Example: a funny old stick
8a. A group of bombs that are dropped from an aircraft one after the other over a target;
8b. A group of parachutists that are dropped from an aircraft one after the other.

verb

sticked, sticking
1. To support (a plant) using a stick or sticks.

Idiom: get hold of the wrong end of the stick

To misunderstand a situation, a statement, etc.

Idiom: give it some stick

colloq
To put some force or effort into something.

Idiom: give someone stick

To criticize or punish them.

Idiom: in a cleft stick

In a dangerous or tricky position.

Idiom: up sticks

colloq
To move away, especially without warning.
Example: He just upped sticks and left

Idiom: up the stick

slang
Pregnant.

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon sticca.