English Reference
Idiom idiom

make a long story short


Tell something briefly


SIMPLE

“To make a long story short, we missed the train.”

CONTEXTUAL

“I had a terrible day at the airport, but to make a long story short, I finally arrived home at midnight.”

COMPLEX

“The witness began to describe every detail of the accident, but eventually decided to make a long story short by focusing on the final impact.”

Last updated June 7, 2026