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Formation: V-た form + 挙げ句（に）; N + の + 挙げ句（に）; 挙げ句の + N

〜挙げ句（に） says that something dragged on for a long time (hesitating, arguing, repeated trouble) and finally ended in a certain outcome. The outcome is usually disappointing or unwelcome, and the speaker often sounds frustrated or exasperated. It appears in both speech and writing, and the first part often contains words like さんざん, 長時間, or 繰り返した to show how long it went on. The closest pattern is 〜末（に）: 末 is more formal and neutral and works for good outcomes (努力の末に合格した), while 挙げ句 suggests a tiresome process and a bad result. 〜始末だ comes at the end of the sentence and points to a shameful final state. 挙げ句の果て（に） is a stronger form meaning "to top it all off".

Variants: あげく、挙げ句の果て（に）、挙げ句の + N

Examples

• さんざん迷った挙げ句、結局何も買わずに店を出た。
  After agonizing over it for ages, I ended up leaving the store without buying anything.
• 長時間の議論の挙げ句、結論は次回に持ち越された。
  After hours of debate, the decision was in the end put off until the next meeting.
• 彼は遅刻を繰り返した挙げ句の果てに、無断欠勤までした。
  He kept turning up late, and to top it all off he even skipped work without notice.

In real texts 0 occurrence(s)

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