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a means to an end

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a means to an end

something done to achieve something else You may get tired of regular physical exercise, but it's simply a means to an end.

See also: end, mean

a means to an end

something that you are not interested in but that you do because it will help you to achieve something else (not used with the ) Mike doesn't have any professional ambitions. For him, work is just a means to an end.

See also: end, mean