Definition
various small, miscellaneous, or unimportant things
Examples
1) I spent the afternoon organizing the garage, sorting through all the odds
and ends that had accumulated over the years.
2) I found a box full of odds and ends in the attic, including old keys,
broken toys, and random trinkets.
Etymology
The term originated in the 17th century, combining "odds" meaning remnants or
leftover items, and "ends" referring to smaller bits or pieces.
Synonyms
hodgepodge, bits and pieces
- englishdaily626.com [edited]
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It's hard not to stock up, like a pack rat, as I grew up in scarcity. The
thrill of acquiring and hoarding, however, fades over time. Into middle age, I
realize more is no longer necessarily better and often think of downsizing.
But by now I'm stuck. If I could shrug off the odds and ends accumulated over
the years, big-ticket items are harder to let go. At a certain point, it feels
my stuff start to own me instead of the other way around. It is likened to the
gold chain one wears on a sinking ship, I heard.
