you've not heard the last of this

[frindle]

Hello. I wonder what "You've not heard the last of this" means in this context below.
Does it mean "I still have something to say to you"?
Please help. Thank you.


-------------------
"Have you seen the state of this place? It's disgusting. I fear for these children's health." (said Nelly to Dawson.)
"Get out of my flat!"
I point towards the open front door. Dawson looks worried.
Nelly's not so easily put off. She narrows her eyes to bloodshot slits and leans towards me.
"You've not heard the last of this, young man. Not by a long chalk."

 

[emsr2d2]

It means "This is not the end of the matter. I will (or someone will) be in touch with you again at an unspecified time in the future about this issue."

 

[TheParser]

"You've not heard the last of this, young man. Not by a long chalk."

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Hello, Frindle:

1. I had never heard "Not by a long chalk" until I read your post. Thank you for teaching me that. Americans say, "Not by a long shot."

2. Please remember that "You've not heard the last of this" is a threat. So one must be careful in using it.

Tom: Why didn't I get the job?

Manager: Because I don't like you. I'm the boss, and I can do anything that I want.

Tom: Oh, yeah! Well, you've not heard the last of this [matter].

Manager: Are you threatening me?

Tom: You'll see!

 

[emsr2d2]

It can be used as a threat, but not necessarily in a "dangerous" way! It's more of a promise than a threat, in my opinion. Usually, the recipient of the comment has done something to deserve it!

We use "not by a long shot" in BrE as well "not by a long chalk".

 

[BrunaBC]

What is the meaning of this expression "not by a long chalk [shot]" in this context? Would it mean "at all"?

Thanks.

 

[emsr2d2]

What is the meaning of this expression "not by a long chalk [shot]" in this context? Would it mean "at all"?

Thanks.

That pretty much sums it up. "At all" or "not to any extent".

 

[BobK]

There's a similar-looking idiom - '<subj.> never hear the end of it' which just refers to something that will cause comment: 'If I went in that hat I'd never hear the end of it. It looks ridiculous.'

b

 

[SoothingDave]

Also "you haven't seen/heard the last of me," usually said as someone is departing a scene, often involuntarily.

 

[emsr2d2]

We also use "not by any stretch of the imagination" to mean "No matter how good your imagination is, you won't be able to imagine how good/bad etc it is/was/will be" or "Even if you can imagine it, it won't happen".

The building work is due to be finished by Friday. That isn't going to happen, not by any stretch of the imagination.