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
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
If anything, Blaine’s saccharine monologue that precedes the kiss kind of serves as cosmic justice for Kurt, who really gets the short end of the stick in season two, to say the least.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
But the public is getting the short end of the stick.
—Eric Markowitz, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Gen Z undoubtedly got the short end of the stick when leaving college and trying to land a job.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Maybe Howard will get the short end of the stick?
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Regardless, Kuminga will be getting the short end of the stick.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
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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
If anything, Blaine’s saccharine monologue that precedes the kiss kind of serves as cosmic justice for Kurt, who really gets the short end of the stick in season two, to say the least.
—James Factora, Them., 26 Sep. 2025
But the public is getting the short end of the stick.
—Eric Markowitz, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Gen Z undoubtedly got the short end of the stick when leaving college and trying to land a job.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Maybe Howard will get the short end of the stick?
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2025
Regardless, Kuminga will be getting the short end of the stick.
—Valentina Martinez, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 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 22 Oct. 2025.
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