At the end of the day...

[fredpuli47]

"Well, at the end of the day, he is still a goal scorer" At the end of which day ?
When did 'at the end of the day' come to mean 'finally' or 'whatever the argument' or 'when all's said and done'.?

It's a phrase which has become much used, but I don't recall it being used at all before c 1970. Is it an old phrase that has had a revival ? Is it an import from America ? (Or was I singularly unobservant from 1950 to 1970 ?)

[Quizmonster]

You're about right, Fred. The earliest recorded use of the phrase in the OED is from 1974 in H McKeating's God and Future. It is not apparently an Americanism, though I have known some silly Brits blame them for it. As a matter of interest, the dictionary does describe it as "a hackneyed phrase", so it was presumably around in speech for some time beforehand.

[fredpuli47]

A Canadian 'ex-pat' friend says that 'at the end of the day' is from keeping accounts . Small businesses such as corner shops,'cashed up' and balanced their books daily, at the end of the day. They would then know the day's takings and spot any unexplained shortfall immediately. The phrase means, ';when everything is taken into account' .

If so, the phrase must be much older than 40 years but its figurative use may be recent.That seems unlikely, as you suggest QM

[janbee]

Hi Fred..It's the phrase "at this moment in time" that gets me. What's wrong with saying "now"?

[fredpuli47]

Now ? At the end of the day," it is not acceptable" at this moment in time, janbee.

One day I'll find out who the person is who doesn't accept it.Every petty bureaucrat and manager says "it isn't acceptable" but never says to whom..Anyway, one thing is sure. The speaker isn't taking personal responsibility.

[sophie_1003]

At the end of the day...it will be night!