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 invariably, these calls are co-opted by conservatives to demonize those on the short end of the stick.
—
Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
Cora wasn't pleased with Bucknor on Saturday, the Red Sox ultimately caught the short end of the stick.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 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
And service members got the short end of the stick.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
And at the end, the poorest countries ended up getting the short end of the stick.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
With Denver backed up in their own territory and up two late in the fourth quarter against New York, at the short end of the stick relative to the clock, Joseph sent the house on three of the Jets’ last four downs.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
This leaves customers with flights that airlines are unable to sell– this could mean customers get the short end of the stick.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
Bermuda will get the short end of the stick from this shift in Imelda’s track and faces a rare one-two punch.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
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Literary Hub, 30 Mar. 2026
Cora wasn't pleased with Bucknor on Saturday, the Red Sox ultimately caught the short end of the stick.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 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
And service members got the short end of the stick.
—Eileen Finan, PEOPLE, 11 Nov. 2025
And at the end, the poorest countries ended up getting the short end of the stick.
—NPR, 11 Nov. 2025
With Denver backed up in their own territory and up two late in the fourth quarter against New York, at the short end of the stick relative to the clock, Joseph sent the house on three of the Jets’ last four downs.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025
This leaves customers with flights that airlines are unable to sell– this could mean customers get the short end of the stick.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Oct. 2025
Bermuda will get the short end of the stick from this shift in Imelda’s track and faces a rare one-two punch.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 29 Sep. 2025
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 3 Apr. 2026.
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