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

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Not all bank stocks have gotten the short end of the stick. — Morgan Chittum,matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 27 May 2026 Granted, there are victims who are probably not bad people and get the short end of the stick. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026 Mayo was given the short end of the stick and let go after one season, a move that garnered a lot of controversy. — Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 23 Jan. 2026 But invariably, these calls are co-opted by conservatives to demonize those on the short end of the stick. — Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for the short end of the stick

Rhymes for the short end of the stick

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Browse Nearby Words

the shoe is on the other foot
the short end of the stick
the short run
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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 7 Jul. 2026.

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