Where did the phrase "end of" originate?

[nkf]

Not strictly Pedants' Corner but does anyone know? Is it American? From a particular TV series? And why is it everywhere?

"eND OF SUBJECT" AS IN - i AM NOT DISCUSSING THIS FURTHER.

End Of Story.

Full Stop.

Over.

Done.

End Of.

I know what it means but why has it become such a well used phrase? Where did it originate?

"End of story" was quite common a few years ago.

Peter Davison's character had it as a catchphrase in that programme where Lenny henry played a superhead.

I think "End of" comes from those daytime confrontation shows, doesn't it?

like talk to the hand

and 24/7

you are officially watching too much Jeremy Kyle

There was a girl on big brother who said it all the time. Can't remember her name but she was a cow and it was the year that they had a big yellow square sofa. Can't remember a single person who was in it.

I do believe it was the lovely Saskia (of the Saskia and Maxwell etc. clique - paying homage to another of the pedants corner discussions here; it is definitely clique, not click). "End of" is a hideous and vile expression and we must do eveything possible to prevent it from becoming ingrained in the English language. While we're on the topic of linguistic bugbears... has anyone else noticed how frequently people say "yeah no" at the beginning of a sentence? It is irritating the hell out of me.

24/7 is tedious. I don't know "talk to the hand."

End of always sounds as if it's said in a way that suggests the speaker thinks she's being feisty but it's too commonplace to have an effect.

The full version is "talk to the hand 'cos the face ain't listening."

You can never take it seriously once you have heard it in your head to the tune of "what shall we do with the drunken sailor?"

For both 'end of' and 'talk to the hand', you also have to do that sassy wobble thing with your head.

I once had some colleagues in stitches when a rather rude male University student with whom I was dealing was blatantly talking to my boobs... so I told him to "talk to the hand cos the tits ain't listening". Needless to say he blushed and scuttled off .

ME - I know what you mean. And the hand moving across the face. Jeremy Kyle style.

Shouldn't it be 'end have?'

I'd like to move my hand across JK's face. I would be holding a comedy anvil at the time.

UnquietDad thank you, you have made my day... PML.

can I take this opportunity to moan about "big time"?

I want to hurt people who say it. I really really do. What is it anyway? It makes no sense. It's stupid.