idiom · neutral
get the short end of the stick
UK/ɡet ðə ʃɔːt end əv ðə stɪk/US/ɡɛt ðə ʃɔrt ɛnd əv ðə stɪk/get·the·SHORT·end·of·the·STICK
to be treated unfairly or receive the less desirable outcome
Examples
“In the inheritance, he felt he got the short end of the stick.”
“Students from the poorer school often get the short end of the stick.”
“She got the short end of the stick when responsibilities were divided.”
Band 8 sentence
“When company resources were cut, the smallest departments invariably got the short end of the stick.”
Collocations
- get the short end of the stick in
- end up with the short end of the stick
Word family
Common mistakes
get the short stick→get the short end of the stick
got short end of stick→got the short end of the stick
Say it for a higher band
5be unlucky→6be disadvantaged→7+get the short end of the stick
Synonyms
be at a disadvantage
lose out
Easily confused
be taken advantage of
“She felt she was being taken advantage of when they gave her all the work.”
Related words
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