A "cliffhanger" ending is when something ends in such an exciting way that it keeps you guessing what will happen next. For example, TV dramas usually have cliffhanger endings that keep viewers guessing what will happen in the next episode. When something ends with a bang, it means it ends in a very exciting way. If it ends with a whimper, it means it ends in a boring and unexciting way. Therefore, the expression "ended not with a bang but a whimper" means something ended not in an exciting way but in a boring way. Occupy Central started with a bang when protesters fought with police but ended with a whimper when protesters allowed themselves to be arrested without resistance. It was not a cliffhanger ending, but I think it was a happy ending because no one wants to see violence.
Are you happy or disappointed that Occupy Central has ended? Did you support it or oppose it? Was it good or bad for Hong Kong? Do you think the students will succeed in pressing the central government to give Hong Kong genuine democracy? If they don't succeed, should they raise the level of civil disobedience? These are very taxing (difficult, challenging, tough) questions. I am sure we all have different answers to these taxing questions but that doesn't mean some people are right and others are wrong. We are allowed to think differently and have our own opinions in a free society.
＊ ＊ ＊
許多人都預料，佔中會有個緊張跌宕（cliffhanger）的落幕。我也以為它會有個驚心動魄（cliffhanger）的結束。然而，佔中的終結並非轟然巨響，而是低鳴一聲（ended not with a bang but a whimper）。這是好的結果。我相信，大部份香港人也慶幸佔中於星期四和平地結束。大部份示威者在警方要求下自行離開金鐘。許多示威者與政客選擇留守，但警察拘捕時他們並沒有反抗（resist，動詞）。佔中的原意就是示威者容讓自己在不予反抗（resistance，名詞）之下被捕，但當公民抗命示威甫開始，便偏離了（deviated）原本的計劃。
一個cliffhanger的結尾，就是事情以緊湊驚險的方式結束，令你總不知道將會發生甚麼事。譬如，電視劇就常常有一個很吊胃口（cliffhanger）的結尾，令觀眾總在猜想下一集會發生的事。若某事ends with a bang，即是它以非常轟動而驚險的方式結束；若它ends with a whimper，就是它以沉悶而沒趣的方式結束。因此，習語ended not with a bang but a whimper，解作某事以沉悶而非驚心動魄的方式結束。當示威者與警方爭持時，佔中像砰地一聲的炸開（started with a bang），但當示威者容讓自己毫不抵抗（resistance）下被捕，它就像一聲低泣般結束（ended with a whimper）。這不是一個懸宕（cliffhanger）的結尾，但我相信這是個美滿結局，因為沒有人會想見到暴力發生。
佔中結束，你是欣喜抑或失望？你支持抑或反對它？它對香港是好是壞？你認為學生們可否成功向中央施壓，給予香港真正的民主？若他們不成功，他們應否將公民抗命進一步升級？這些都是很累人的（taxing）問題。我肯定我們每個人對這些費勁的（taxing）問題，都各有答案，但這不代表有些人就對，其他人就錯。我們在自由社會中，就是容許有不同的思考和各自的意見。
mickchug@gmail.com
中譯：七刻
中譯:七刻
Michael Chugani 褚簡寧
Source: http://news.stheadline.com/dailynews/headline_news_detail_columnist.asp?id=312766§ion_name=wtt&kw=126