Loppukädessä

Loppukädessä is a Finnish adverbial phrase meaning in the end or ultimately. It signals that a statement sums up factors after consideration or introduces a final conclusion in reasoning, discussion, or narration.

Etymology and use: The expression is formed from loppu, meaning end, and käsi, meaning hand, with the inessive suffix -ssä, producing a figurative sense that the conclusion is in hand or readily available at the end of the analysis. The phrase is well established in modern Finnish and occurs in both spoken and written language. It is common in formal discourse such as journalism, essays, speeches, and policy discussions, but is also used in everyday conversation.

Usage notes: Loppukädessä is typically employed to foreground a verdict after weighing several considerations. It can be paraphrased by loppujen lopuksi, kaikin puolin, or kaiken kaikkiaan, depending on nuance. In English, it corresponds to in the end, at the end of the day, or ultimately. The expression lends a sense of finality to the conclusion and is suited to presenting a decisive takeaway.

Examples: Loppukädessä ratkaisu riippuu resursseista. Loppukädessä on muistettava, että suunnitelma äärimmäisessä tapauksessa on joustava.

See also: Loppujen lopuksi; Kaiken kaikkiaan.