wind up
verb
- end up; finally be or do; arrive at
Wiktionary
Pronunciation: /waɪnd ˈʌp/
noun
- Alternative form of wind-up.
verb
- To wind (rope, string, mainsprings, etc.) completely.
“I wound up the spool of rope.”
- To put (a clock, watch, etc.) in a state of renewed or continued motion by winding the spring or other energy-storage mechanism.
“I wound up the clock.”
“Your pocket watch will run for a long time if you wind up the spring all the way.”
- To tighten (someone or something) by winding or twisting.
“The movie wound me up emotionally.”
- To excite.
“Try not to wind up the kids too much right before bedtime.”
- To upset; to anger or distress.
“Of all their regrets, it was their inability to score an away goal that might wind up Klopp the most. Sadio Mané wasted a glorious chance in the first half and, late on, Mohamed Salah turned his shot against a post after a goal-line clearance had spun his way.”
- To roll up (a car window or well bucket, etc., by cranking).
“Wind up your window — it's starting to rain.”
- To end up; to arrive or result.
“Mess around with drugs and wind up broke.”
“I followed the signs, and I wound up getting nowhere.”
- To increase (in some aspect).
“Now, things got even more confusing. Farenholt and Laffey hadn't spotted the incoming Japanese Navy vessels, and were winding up to full speed to more-quickly bypass the cruisers. Duncan, of course, could see the radar contacts to its starboard, and so assumed that this increase in speed by its compatriots was the start of a general assault on the enemy. And so, not wanting to be left behind, it broke off and headed off into the darkness to start what turned out to be a one-ship torpedo assault.”
- To conclude, complete, or finish (something).
“Even though he had bad news, he tried to wind up his speech on a positive note.”
“A general feast, of which all the male inhabitants of the town partake, winds up the proceedings at the close of the nineteen days.”
- To dissolve (a partnership or corporation) and liquidate its assets.
- To play a prank (on); to take the mickey (out of) or mock.
“Twenty quid? Are you winding me up?”
- To make the preparatory movements for a certain kind of pitch.
“Paige seemed to be winding up for a fastball but then switched it up.”