Definition of the word finish up

The expression "finish up" has its roots in Middle English language, where it was spelled as "finisen" or "fynden sum". The Old English word "fynnan" meaning "to make an end" or "finish" evolved into "finisen" and later "finisen" became "finissen" in Middle English. As the English language evolved, the spelling "finsh" appeared in Early Modern English, as can be seen in the works of Shakespeare. Towards the end of the 17th century, the phonetic spelling "finishes" had become popular due to its pronunciation as "finishes". The phrase "finish up" first appeared in the early 19th century, with the meaning of "complete" or "bring to an end". The use of "up" in this context may have its origin in the Old English word "upan" meaning "over" or "completion". In summary, the expression "finish up" has evolved over many centuries, originating from the Old English word "fynnan" and ultimately arriving at its current spelling and meaning in the early 19th century.