the long and short of (it)
Meaning(s)
1. when explaining a situation without going into detail
Popularity
Medium
Professional
Medium
Social
How to Memorize
the long and short of it is
Analysis
When you say 'the long and short of it is...', you are getting to the main point of a conversation or discussion without going into detail. This might be in order to communicate more efficiently or to emphasise what the main point is. This is an informal idiom that has come to be used in social and professional situations.
Social Examples (Basic)
- We can't afford to go on holidays and that's the long and short of it, really.
- We had a manic day but the long and short of it was that Daniel ended up in hospital.
Professional Examples (Advance)
- The long and short of why I called you here today is that we have hit a crisis point.
- This document has all of the details, but the long and short of it is...we are being sued.