Have you ever heard of the term short shrift? If not, then you are not alone. This creative saying is rather outdated, but it is an apt way to explain when someone doesn\u2019t give a problem enough of their attention. If you are interested in learning more about this phrase, keep reading. This post unpacks the meaning and origin of this expression.<\/p>\n
The phrase short shrift means that someone or something has been treated in a curt manner. Generally, it also stands to mean being dismissed or given a reject in a quick and unsympathetic manner. It also means the time between being convicted or condemned and the punishment for the crime being carried out.<\/strong><\/p>\n In terms of those giving a confession, short shrift means that there is or was almost no time between the confession and the punishment. In terms of a complex or even moderate problem, the phrase short shrift means that little to no attention was paid to the matter. In the religious sense, the act of confession to a priest, penance, and rapid absolution was called short shrift.<\/p>\n \u201cThe publishers heard that he had passed away, and since they could not make much money, they gave his stories the short shrift\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cGiving these ideas the room they need to succeed is not always easy, that\u2019s one reason so many inventors get the short shrift\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI really want to appeal the conviction, but I feel as if the judge is giving us the short shrift\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cConsumers have been giving electric trucks the short shrift for two decades, but now that the prices are affordable, they may get a chance\u201d.<\/p>\n The root of the phrase short shrift can be traced back to 1594. The phrase is archaic in nature and was created by the Church. It is a reference to the confession and subsequent absolution of the confessed persons sins. In modern times, the word shift means \u201cto move\u201d, and the original form, \u201cshrift\u201d is not seen on its own at all.<\/p>\n Early written records of the phrase short shrift are found in the play Richard III, by William Shakespeare. One of the characters, Lord Hastings, is told: \u201cMake a short shrift\". The reason being is that the King wanted him to be beheaded as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n As in Shakespeare\u2019s writing, it means to shorten the length of the confession so that the punishment can be completed. As of the 19th century, the term has been used to refer to when not enough time has been given to a person or a subject. So, though the phrase was used by the Church, it is Shakespeare\u2019s writing that kept the phrase alive. Despite this fact, it is a seldom used phrase outside of academic circles.<\/p>\nExample Usage<\/h2>\n
Origin<\/h2>\n