student asking question

What does it mean by "rainbow's end"? Is that an idiom or something?

teacher

Native speaker’s answer

Rebecca

The expression "[pot of gold] at the end of the rainbow" is used to describe things that are very desirable but extremely difficult (or even impossible) to obtain or achieve. However, the phrase "we're after the same rainbow's end" is very different in meaning. Many critics have analyzed "rainbow's end" in the lyrics here to mean "the end of the river," which likely refers to death or the end of life in this context. However, in most cases, "end of the rainbow/rainbow end" will refer to chasing after an unattainable thing. Ex: Everyone wants to chase the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Ex: Winning the lottery is like getting the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.

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