ɪn ə ˈnʌtʃɛl
Food & Cooking
neutral
beginner
- Literally:
- Inside the shell of a nut
What does "in a nutshell" mean?
- In a very brief or concise form
- Summarized in the fewest possible words
Examples
- In a nutshell, the project was a success.
- Can you explain the situation in a nutshell?
- That's the plan in a nutshell.
Origin
Ancient expression—Pliny described Homer's Iliad being written small enough to fit in a nutshell. Suggests compressing something large into a tiny space.
How to use it
Very common way to introduce a summary. Often used when simplifying complex topics.
Similar expressions
in brief
in short
to sum up
in summary
Opposites
in detail
at length
comprehensively
Related idioms
- piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- a piece of cake
Something very easy to do
- an apple a day keeps the doctor away
Eating fruit or having a healthy diet helps maintain good health
- bite off more than you can chew
To take on more responsibility or work than one can handle
- don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don't risk everything on a single opportunity
- not your cup of tea
Not something you enjoy or are interested in
Use it in a practice answer
Try "in a nutshell" in a CELPIP-style Speaking or Writing task. The AI feedback tells you whether your word choice worked.