finish

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noun

1 last part/end of sth

ADJECTIVE

▪ exciting, fantastic, good, great, thrilling, tremendous (esp. BrE)

▪

His best finish was 11th in the Hungarian Grand Prix.

▪ perfect

▪

It was the perfect finish to a wonderful day.

▪ disappointing

▪ sprint, storming (BrE), strong

▪

The runners came around the bend for a sprint finish in the home straight.

▪ close, dramatic, nail-biting, photo, tight

▪

It was a photo finish, with three horses neck and neck at the finishing line.

▪ second-place, etc.

▪ last-place (AmE), runner-up

▪

The team had another last-place finish.

▪ podium

▪

The pair just missed out on a podium finish when they took fourth place.

▪ uphill

▪

He won a hard uphill finish at the recent Tour de Suisse.

VERB + FINISH

▪ be in at (BrE)

▪

Her car suffered from gearbox trouble, but she was still in at the finish.

FINISH + NOUN

▪ line (AmE)

PREPOSITION

▪ at the finish

▪

Several runners needed medical attention at the finish.

▪ to a/the finish

▪

They fought bravely right to the finish.

▪ finish to

▪

a dramatic finish to the game

PHRASES

▪ from start to finish

▪

He was in the lead from start to finish.

2 look/feel of sth

ADJECTIVE

▪ good, neat (BrE), perfect

▪ professional (esp. BrE)

▪ decorative

▪ fine, smooth

▪ textured

▪ natural

▪ faux (AmE)

▪

The walls have a faux finish that mimics old plaster walls.

▪ paint, painted

▪ polished

▪ gloss, glossy, matt/matte, mirror, satin, shiny

▪ chrome, metallic, nickel, stainless-steel, wood

▪

a guitar with a natural wood finish

▪ surface

▪ durable

▪ protective

▪ floor, wall, etc.

▪

The wall and floor finishes are all of the the highest standard.

▪ exterior, interior

VERB + FINISH

▪ have

▪

This paint has a gloss finish.

▪ achieve, get

▪

With our new tool you get a perfect finish every time.

▪ create, give (sth), produce, provide

▪

This trim really does give the garment a professional finish.

▪ match

▪

The wall has been painted to match the finish of the original.

▪ apply

▪

Make sure the surface is clean and smooth before the finish is applied.

FINISH + NOUN

▪ coat (AmE)

PREPOSITION

▪ to a finish

▪

Sand the wood to a fine finish using steel wool.

▪ with a finish

▪

a door handle with a metallic finish

▪ finish on

▪

How did you achieve that finish on the wood?

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verb

ADVERB

▪ almost, nearly

▪ barely, just

▪

Murdo had barely finished talking to Mikey when the bell rang.

▪

She had just finished dressing when the telephone rang.

▪ recently

▪ soon

▪ eventually, finally

▪ quickly

▪

I quickly finished my tea.

▪ lamely, quietly, softly

▪

‘I had no idea … ’ I finished lamely.

▪ off

▪

He finished off by welcoming the new arrivals.

VERB + FINISH

▪ let sb

▪

Let me just finish what I'm doing.

PREPOSITION

▪ by

▪

He finished by telling us about his trip to Spain.

▪ with

▪

The evening finished with a few songs.

▪

Have you finished with the vacuum cleaner yet?

Finish is used with these nouns as the subject: ↑exam, ↑work, ↑year

Finish is used with these nouns as the object: ↑assignment, ↑brandy, ↑business, ↑call, ↑career, ↑coffee, ↑college, ↑conversation, ↑course, ↑cup, ↑degree, ↑dissertation, ↑doctorate, ↑draft, ↑drink, ↑education, ↑errand, ↑essay, ↑grade, ↑high school, ↑homework, ↑jigsaw, ↑job, ↑journey, ↑lap, ↑manuscript, ↑marathon, ↑master, ↑meeting, ↑novel, ↑packing, ↑painting, ↑paperwork, ↑pint, ↑preparation, ↑project, ↑school, ↑schooling, ↑season, ↑semester, ↑sentence, ↑session, ↑shift, ↑stint, ↑study, ↑task, ↑thesis, ↑training, ↑university, ↑whisky, ↑work, ↑workout