Countdown beim Promibacken: Die Torten nehmen Farbe an

What does “Endspurt” mean in German?

Endspurt is the word Germans reach for in the last stretch of any effort: an exam week, a sale, a deadline, a race to the finish. It joins Ende (“end”) with Spurt, a burst of speed. When someone shouts Endspurt, it means the same as “home stretch” in English: not much time left, so give it everything you’ve got now.

Spurt came into German in the 1800s from English spurt, a sudden burst of energy, first in the world of sport and then everywhere else. The tone is upbeat and rallying, a bit of adrenaline in one word. You’ll also meet the near-twin Schlussspurt, built the same way from Schluss (“finish”); the two are used interchangeably.