# short end of the stick

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/short-end-of-the-stick
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

A situation, opportunity, or outcome which is less favorable than situations, opportunities, or outcomes experienced by or available to others.

## Examples

- I always get the short end of the stick in this office.
- Because I arrived late to the meeting, I got the short end of the stick and had to take all the notes.
- Despite his years of loyal service, he felt he had received the short end of the stick when the company offered the promotion to a new hire.

## Origin

The expression has been attested since the 1500s, though its precise origins remain a matter of conjecture. One theory suggests it may be a minced oath derived from the phrase *shit end of the stick*, a possibility bolstered by an 1840s citation using the term *crappy*. This derivation is, however, considered unlikely. The idiom is possibly a variation on the older phrase *wrong end of the stick*. While that version suggests a literal origin, the specific physical circumstances of the stick in question have not been recorded. Whether the metaphor relates to a struggle for control or a misplaced grip, the exact literal meaning remains unclear. (disputed)

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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.