ɡɛt ðə ʃɔːrt ɛnd əv ðə stɪk
General
informal
intermediate
- Literally:
- To receive the shorter portion of a divided stick
What does "get the short end of the stick" mean?
- To receive unfair or less favorable treatment
- To end up with the worse part of a deal or situation
Examples
- In the divorce, he got the short end of the stick.
- Employees always get the short end of the stick when companies merge.
- I feel like I got the short end of the stick in this deal.
Origin
From the practice of drawing straws or sticks to make random selections, where the shorter piece was the losing draw.
How to use it
Expresses feeling of unfair treatment in a situation. Common in discussions of negotiations or outcomes.
Similar expressions
get a raw deal
be shortchanged
lose out
be treated unfairly
Opposites
get the better deal
come out ahead
Related idioms
- actions speak louder than words
What people do is more important than what they say
- better safe than sorry
It's better to be careful and prevent problems than to take risks
- so far so good
Things have gone well up to now
- easier said than done
Something is more difficult to do than to talk about
- make a long story short
To summarize or get to the point
- to make matters worse
In addition to existing problems
Use it in a practice answer
Try "get the short end of the stick" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.