long and short of it, the
The substance or gist of something, as in The first page of this report will give you the long and short of it. This expression, originally stated as the short and long of it, dates from about 1500, the present order being established by the end of the 1600s.
RELATED CONTENT
“Sir” And “Madam” Are Shorter Versions Of What Words?Let’s say you want to get the attention of a male clerk in the produce section of the grocery store. Would you say, “Excuse me sire, but could you please explain the difference between a yam and a sweet potato?” (For the answer to that question, read this.) Addressing a stranger as “sire” might raise an eyebrow. But if you said it, you wouldn’t necessarily …
Nearby words
lonesomely, long, long abductor muscle of thumb, long account, long ago, long and short of it, the, long arm, long arm of the law, the, long axis, long barrow, long beach
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.