Possible Clues:

• ___ the finish
• __ the finish
• ___ the kill
• Take __ the waist: alter
• Take ___ the waist (tailor's job)
• "For those listening __ home ..."
• ___ the beginning (present from the start)
• -- the finish
• "Tune ___ 11"
• Take __ the waist (alter, perhaps)