short and sweet

phrase

: pleasantly brief : not long in duration or extent
That's the way we like the meetings—short and sweet.
I've got a few announcements, but I'll keep it short and sweet.
The burger joint's short and sweet menu sticks to the classics with beef and vegan burgers and a fried chicken sandwich …Dua Anjum

Word History

First Known Use

1545, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of short and sweet was in 1545

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Short and sweet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/short%20and%20sweet. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster