finish up and end up

[Little man]

Hello!
I have trouble with two phrasal verbs: end up and finish up.
I read my dictionary and phrasal verb guide on this site, but I still don't understand difference between them.

As far as I understand this phrasal verbs deal with two meanings.

First: to arrive at a particular place, usually unexpectedly
We went out for diner and FINISHED UP in a club
She fled with her children,moving from neighbour to neighbour and ENDING UP in a friend's cellar.

Second meaning: to be in a particular situation, state, usually without planing or expecting it.
I wondered where the pictures would END UP after the auction.
He tried to bribe a police officer and FINISHED UP in jail.

Both verbs are used with gerund after them.

I hope you will help me with this problem.

 

[Raymott]

You could also use "wind up" in that context.
"I wondered where the pictures would WIND UP after the auction."
"He tried to bribe a police officer and WOUND UP in jail."

 

[GoesStation]

"Finished up in jail" doesn't sound natural to my AmE ears unless we're talking about an ongoing activity: ​She started to crochet the scarf at home, but she finished it up in jail.

 

[Raymott]

​She started to crochet the scarf at home, but she finished it up in jail.

Well, that's different. I'd say, "finished it off".

 

[GoesStation]

Well, that's different. I'd say, "finished it off".

That would mean she killed it in AmE. Probably with a shank.

 

[Little man]

First of all, thank you for your replies.
I'll make a summary to understand the difference.
So, I know that the phrasal verb "finish off" has four meanings:
First - to complete smth. (But I really cannot realize what the difference "finish" and "finish off" in this meaning.)
Second - to eat smth completely.
Third - to complete event, performance, etc by doing one final thing. E.g., I finished off my the speech by thanking my audience.
And, finally, fourth - kill sb or smth when they are already weak, or take away sb's energy, strength.

"Finish up" has another two meanings in addition to what we are discussing about. And both are equal to meaning of "finish of".
First - to complete smth.
Second - to eat smth completely.
It should be difference in American and British English.

As for "end up" and "finish up", as far as I understand, for American speakers this verbs are not interchangeably, and they use only "end up" in the meanings that I wrote at the begining of the thread. And I can use "wind up" as a synonym of "end up".

I wrote a lot but still confused.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

Little man, be careful. You're supposed to write 'these" with plural nouns and "this" with singular. Not "this verbs" but "these verbs" etc.

 

[Boris Tatarenko]

First of all, thank you for your replies.
I'll make a summary to understand the difference.
So, I know that the phrasal verb "finish off" has four meanings:
First - to complete smth. (But I really cannot realize what the difference between "finish" and "finish off" in this meaning is.)
Second - to eat smth completely.
Third - to complete event, performance, etc by doing one final thing. E.g., I finished off my the (delete something) speech by thanking my audience.
And, finally, fourth - kill sb or smth when they are already weak, or take away sb's energy, strength.

"Finish up" has another two meanings in addition to which we are discussing about. And both mean the same as "finish off".
First - to complete smth.
Second - to eat smth completely.
It should be a difference in between American and British English.

As for "end up" and "finish up", as far as I understand, for American speakers this these verbs are not interchangeably interchangeable, and they use only "end up" in the meanings that I wrote at the beginning of the thread. And I can use "wind up" as a synonym of for "end up".

I wrote a lot but I am still confused.

I have no idea how to cross your mistakes, that's why I've just corrected the most important of them this way (although I understand it's easy to follow at all). Hopefully, native speakers will find some time to show you how to write correctly.

 

[gurpreetgill4u]

I am not a teacher.

Finish off is different from finish in that you are already in the middle of that activity. For example,
A: Would you like to go out with us? B: No, I have to finish my homework(He may or may not have started the homework ).
A: Would you like to go out with us? B: Sure, let me finish off my homework(You are doing your homework when they asked you out).
This is my idea.

 

[Matthew Wai]

I have no idea how to cross your mistakes

Click on 'Go Advanced', and you will see the [STRIKE]ABC[/STRIKE] button, by which you can cross out a word.

 

[Matthew Wai]

"Finish up" has another two meanings in addition to which we are discussing.

I would replace 'which' with 'the one'.

I finished off my the (delete something) speech by thanking my audience.

I would replace 'something' with 'either'.