Home British & World English the long and the short of it

Definition of the long and the short of it in English:

the long and the short of it

phrase

  • All that can or need be said.

    ‘the long and short of it is, I must make something or be miserable’
    • ‘And then the long and the short of it was that we went back to where we stayed and there was no sign of her back there.’
    • ‘He's shell shocked, is the long and the short of it.’
    • ‘Anyway, the long and the short of it is that in the check in line on my way to Germany, I realised I had my Swiss Army Knife in my pocket.’
    • ‘I had some blood tests a couple of weeks ago, to see how the drug has been working and, the long and the short of it is, it hasn't.’
    • ‘Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I have a trial session booked up for Thursday after work.’
    • ‘The long and the short of it is that we pay ourselves too well and the cost has to be recouped by service and product providers.’
    • ‘I'm just somebody serving food and that's the long and the short of it.’
    • ‘So, the long and the short of it was that twice a day, a swarm of four hundred eleven- to sixteen-year-olds would attempt to cross the busiest road in the south of England by bike.’
    • ‘Anyway, the long and the short of it is that I got a free new modem out of it.’
    • ‘Anyway, the long and the short of it is that when the lights go down in the house there are five of us in the audience (in a theatre holding 98), and what we see is absolutely marvellous.’