# make a long story short

idiom · CEFR B1

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/make-a-long-story-short
Updated: 2026-06-07

## Meaning

Tell something briefly

## Examples

- To make a long story short, we missed the train.
- I had a terrible day at the airport, but to make a long story short, I finally arrived home at midnight.
- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.