the short end of the stick
noun phrase
chiefly US, informal
: unfair or unfavorable treatment
She got the short end of the stick in the deal.
Examples of the short end of the stick in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But another user, who identifies as being a tall person, sees that as the short end of the stick for his kind.
—
Gil MacIas, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024
There is bound to be a culture class – two fierce competitive rivals don’t become friends overnight – and the Neiman Marcus customers are likely to get the short end of the stick.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
All of the characters will have plenty to contend with in the impending fourth season, perhaps most of all Radia’s Rishi, who certainly draws the short end of the stick, so to speak, with his violent and traumatic final moments in Season 3.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024
Democrats find themselves on the short end of the stick.
—Fox News, 29 Nov. 2024
Pineda and Elkins battled in the best fight on the UFC Vegas 99 card at the Apex Arena in Las Vegas, but the former came out on the short end of the stick.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
We’re used to getting the short end of the stick in the Middle East.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
As the third- and fourth-largest cable providers, respectively, DirecTV and Dish got the short end of the stick every 3-5 years when carriage deals came up for renewal.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2024
Time after time, American workers got the short end of the stick.
—Elizabeth Warren, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2018
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Gil MacIas, People.com, 30 Dec. 2024
There is bound to be a culture class – two fierce competitive rivals don’t become friends overnight – and the Neiman Marcus customers are likely to get the short end of the stick.
—Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024
All of the characters will have plenty to contend with in the impending fourth season, perhaps most of all Radia’s Rishi, who certainly draws the short end of the stick, so to speak, with his violent and traumatic final moments in Season 3.
—Katie Campione, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024
Democrats find themselves on the short end of the stick.
—Fox News, 29 Nov. 2024
Pineda and Elkins battled in the best fight on the UFC Vegas 99 card at the Apex Arena in Las Vegas, but the former came out on the short end of the stick.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024
We’re used to getting the short end of the stick in the Middle East.
—Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Oct. 2024
As the third- and fourth-largest cable providers, respectively, DirecTV and Dish got the short end of the stick every 3-5 years when carriage deals came up for renewal.
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 1 Oct. 2024
Time after time, American workers got the short end of the stick.
—Elizabeth Warren, Foreign Affairs, 29 Nov. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near the short end of the stick
Cite this Entry
“The short end of the stick.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20short%20end%20of%20the%20stick. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.
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