{"id":264,"date":"2021-12-12T17:08:05","date_gmt":"2021-12-12T17:08:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/?p=264"},"modified":"2021-12-12T17:08:05","modified_gmt":"2021-12-12T17:08:05","slug":"short-end-of-the-stick-meaning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/english-grammar-lessons.com\/short-end-of-the-stick-meaning\/","title":{"rendered":"Short End of the Stick - Meaning, Origin and Usage"},"content":{"rendered":"

Did your boss just unfairly distribute the workload between the team? Maybe you missed the final selection for the debate club, even though you feel you deserve a spot ahead of some of the other candidates? If that\u2019s the case, you got \u201cthe short end of the stick<\/em><\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

This idiom refers to you getting a raw deal. It\u2019s common in conversation and language today, even though the expression has a long history. You can use this phrase in social and professional settings, as most people will understand your reference.<\/p>\n

This post looks at the origin and meaning of the idiom, and we\u2019ll put together a few use cases to further your understanding of how to use it in conversation.<\/p>\n

Short End of the Stick Meaning<\/h2>\n

The meaning of \u201cshort end of the stick<\/em>\u201d refers to getting a \u201craw<\/em>\u201d or unfavorable deal from negotiations or distributions. If you receive \u201cthe short end of the stick<\/em>,\u201d it means that someone overlooked you when you felt you were deserving.<\/p>\n

Short End of the Stick Example Usage<\/h2>\n

Some of the ways you can use \u201cshort end of the stick<\/em>\u201d in conversation are the following.<\/p>\n

    \n
  • The boss gave the promotion to Mike over me; I think I got the short end of the stick<\/em> with that decision.<\/li>\n
  • Charlotte gets to serve customers while I have to clean the bathrooms. I think I got the short end of the stick<\/em> in today\u2019s work allocation.<\/li>\n
  • I didn\u2019t make the team, but Greg did, even though I rushed for more yards than him last season. The coach really gave me the short end of the stick<\/em> with the roster this season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Short End of the Stick Origin<\/h2>\n

    The exact origin of the idiom remains unclear. However, a few ideas of the first use cases of the expression date back to the Middle Ages.<\/p>\n

    Some language experts suggest that the \u201cShort end of the stick<\/em>\u201d originates from the 1500s. During the middle ages, the rich would clean themselves with fabrics after relieving themselves, while the poor would use leaves or a stick with a slight curve, known as a \u201cGompf stick<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

    You would clean your backside with the curved part of the stick. Therefore, anyone grabbing the \u201cshort end of the stick<\/em>\u201d would be grabbing feces, ending in a very unpleasant experience.<\/p>\n

    The phrase comes from the earlier mention of \u201cget the short end of the staff<\/em>,\u201d where masters would beat their servants using the staff, and if you got the wrong end of the staff<\/em>, it meant you get a beating.<\/p>\n