wind-up

wind-up

The wind-up of the concert featured a grand fireworks display.

Definition

  1. Noun:

    • Conclusion or finale: "wind-up" refers to the act of bringing something to an end, especially a meeting, event, or process.
    • A teasing or provoking remark: In informal usage, a "wind-up" is an attempt to annoy or tease someone, often by saying something provocative.

  2. Adjective:

    • Designed to be wound up: Describing a mechanical device, typically a toy or clock, that operates by being wound with a key or knob.
    • Tending to cause irritation: In British slang, "wind-up" can describe something intended to provoke or irritate.
Usage Examples

  • Noun (conclusion):

    • The wind-up of the conference was marked by a summary speech. (The formal ending of the conference.)
    • We are approaching the wind-up of the project. (The final stages of the project.)

  • Noun (teasing):

    • He is just having a wind-up; don't take it seriously. (He is teasing you for amusement.)
    • That comment was a wind-up to get a reaction. (A provocative remark meant to annoy.)

  • Adjective (mechanical):

    • She bought a wind-up toy for her child. (A toy that requires winding to move.)
    • The old wind-up clock still works perfectly. (A clock operated by winding a spring.)
Advanced Usage

  • "to be a wind-up": to be a joke or a tease.

    • Don't believe him — the whole story is a wind-up. (The story is false and meant to trick you.)

  • "to give someone a wind-up": to deliberately annoy or provoke someone.

    • Stop giving me a wind-up about my haircut! (Stop teasing me about my haircut.)
Variants and Related Words

  • Wind-up (verb phrase, separate from the noun): "to wind up" means to conclude or to tighten a spring.

    • We need to wind up the meeting soon. (Conclude the meeting.)
    • He wound up the clock before going to bed. (Tightened the spring.)

  • Wind-up merchant (n, British slang): a person who enjoys teasing or provoking others.

    • My brother is a real wind-up merchant; he loves to annoy me. (He habitually teases others.)
Synonyms
  • Conclusion: ending, finale, closure, termination.
  • Tease: joke, prank, provocation, hoax.
  • Mechanical: spring-driven, clockwork, key-wound.
Phrasal Verbs (Related to "wind up")

  • Wind up (verb): to conclude or to become tense.

    • Let's wind up the discussion now. (Bring it to an end.)
    • He wound up getting lost in the city. (He ended up in a particular situation.)

  • Wind someone up: to annoy or tease someone deliberately.

    • She winds her brother up by hiding his phone. (She annoys him on purpose.)
Related Idioms

  • Wind up in a place: to find oneself in a particular situation or location.

    • After many adventures, he wound up in a small village. (He ended up there.)

  • Get one's wind up: to become nervous or anxious (rare, informal).

    • He got his wind up before the exam. (He became anxious.)