這一對(duì)短語(yǔ)的意思都是“在…的末了”、“在…的一端”,意義上相似,但使用場(chǎng)合有所不同.
一般說來,at the end of用于表示具體事物或場(chǎng)所的場(chǎng)合,它也可以用來表示比喻意.例：
The school is situated at the end of the street．
該校位于這條街的盡頭.
We'll have an exam in English at the end of January．
一月底我們要參加英語(yǔ)考試.
They were at the end of their patience．
他們?nèi)虩o(wú)可忍.
He is at the end of his wits．
他智窮才盡,束手無(wú)策.
By the end of用于表示時(shí)間的場(chǎng)合,往往含有“不遲于”的意味.值得注意的是,at the end of亦可用于表示時(shí)間的場(chǎng)合（見上面第二個(gè)例句）,但其義和by the end of有所不同.試對(duì)比下面兩例：
at the end of January
一月底（指一月份的最后一天）
by the end of January
一月底之前（指一月份結(jié)束前的幾天）
We are to complete the task by the end of the year．
年底之前我們必須完成此項(xiàng)任務(wù).
Their communication is at an end．
他們的交往到此為止.
短語(yǔ) in the end的涵義是“終于”、“最后”,其義相當(dāng)于 at last.例：
I'm sure everything will turn out satisfactory in the end．
我確信,最后一切都會(huì)令人滿意的.
In the end things will mend．
船到橋頭自會(huì)直.