finish line
Loading your saved state.
finish line
The marked line that indicates the end of a racetrack or competition. Crossing this line ends the race.
Die Läuferin überquerte nach einem langen Sprint als Erste die Ziellinie.
After a long sprint, the runner was the first to cross the finish line.
This word is made up of 'das Ziel' (the goal/finish) and 'die Linie' (the line). So it literally describes a line that marks the finish.
Der Läufer erreichte die Ziellinie mit letzter Kraft.
The runner reached the finish line with the last of his strength.
In a sports context, 'die Ziellinie' (the finish line) is very often used with the verb 'überqueren' (to cross). Other typical verbs are 'erreichen' (to reach) or 'sehen' (to see).
Alle Augen waren darauf gerichtet, wer als Erster die Ziellinie überqueren würde.
All eyes were on who would be the first to cross the finish line.
You can recognize the figurative meaning when the context is about completing projects, negotiations, or long tasks, not about sports. Here too, the verb 'überqueren' (to cross) is often used.
Nach einem Jahr intensiver Arbeit hat das Team endlich die Ziellinie überquert.
After a year of intensive work, the team finally crossed the finish line.
end
'das Ende' and 'die Ziellinie' both have to do with a point where something stops. 'das Ende' is the general word for the last part or conclusion of something. It can be temporal, for example in a book, or spatial, for example on a street. 'die Ziellinie' is much more specific: it is the line at the end of a race or competition. Figuratively, it often means the successful completion after a long period of work. The words can be confused because both refer to a conclusion. But 'Ziellinie' only fits when a goal is reached or when you are speaking figuratively as if in a race.
Der Läufer überquerte die Ziellinie mit einem Lächeln.
The runner crossed the finish line with a smile.
Das Ende der Straße liegt direkt hinter der kleinen Brücke.
The end of the street is just beyond the small bridge.