Synonyms of the long and short

the long and short

phrase

variants or the long and the short

as in essence

the central part or aspect of something under consideration

The proposal must be submitted by noon and that's the long and short of it.

Synonyms & Similar Words

• essence
• core
• heart
• root
• bottom line
• kernel
• point
• meat
• sum and substance
• bull's-eye
• meat and potatoes
• keynote
• sum
• gist
• nucleus
• theme
• crux
• centerpiece
• pith
• nub
• direction
• tenor
• subject
• pivot
• substance
• net
• nubbin
• content
• body
• thesis
• proposition
• hypothesis
• course
• drift
• purport

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of the long and short

The brokers have been marketing a group of the firm's holding on both the long and short side for sale prior to Thursday's start of trading, according to people familiar with the situation. — David Faber, CNBC, 30 July 2026