terminar, acabar, ir parar
1. to finally be in a particular place, situation, or condition after a series of events
If you keep spending money like that, you'll end up broke.
Se você continuar gastando dinheiro assim, vai acabar falido.
2. to eventually do something, often unintentionally
We meant to go home early, but we ended up staying until midnight.
Tínhamos a intenção de ir para casa cedo, mas acabamos ficando até a meia-noite.
3. to arrive at a place or destination, especially unexpectedly
After driving for hours, we ended up in a small village.
Depois de dirigir por horas, fomos parar em uma pequena aldeia.
This phrasal verb is extremely common in both American and Brazilian English. In Brazilian Portuguese, 'acabar' is the most frequent equivalent and is used in both formal and informal contexts. The phrase often implies an unexpected or unintended result, which is a key aspect of its meaning in both cultures.
NYC Slang
end up; wind up (similar usage in NYC English)
Related Idioms & Phrases
end up in hot water (meterse en problemas / ir parar em apuros)
end up on the street (ficar na rua / ir parar na rua)
end up with the short end of the stick (sair prejudicado / levar desvantagem)
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