short end of the stick

• short end

Unknown. Attested since the 1500s, suggested by one theory to be a minced oath of shit end of the stick, as an 1840s cite uses crappy,^[1] but this theory is unlikely.^[2] Possibly also derived from a previous literal meaning, as wrong end of the stick is even older, though the precise literal meaning is unclear.

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short end of the stick (plural short ends of the stick)

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

   Near-synonyms: shitty stick; shortest straw; raw deal

   • 1963 April, Ralph E. Lapp, "The Strategy of Overkill," Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, p. 10 (Google preview):

     Soviet emphasis on high-yield weapons might give them a megaton surplus. . . . We might then be on the short end of the stick.

   • 1981 August 24, Claudia Wallis, “Gee Thanks, Ronnie, but...”, in Time, retrieved 10 April 2014:

     [T]he 44 Governors . . . spent three days in tense, often heated discussion of the enormous political and fiscal problems handed to the states under President Reagan's "new federalism." Said Wisconsin Governor Lee Dreyfus: "There is some apprehension on the part of the Governors that we are getting the short end of the stick."

   • 2010 July 9, Bob Herbert, “Restoring a Hallowed Vision”, in New York Times, retrieved 10 April 2014:

     “[W]orking people are sick and tired of the bosses getting million-dollar bonuses and the workers getting the short end of the stick.”

   • 2012 September 2, Tim Jonze, “Africa Express: rolling coverage”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 10 April 2014:

     Does this mean Middlesbrough get the short end of the stick, with what will surely be the most ramshackle show of the tour?

   • 2021 August 5, Shira Ovide, “YouTube Is Underwhelming”, in The New York Times‎^[1], →ISSN:

     I learned the hard way that people who ditch cable TV still get the short end of the stick.

• wrong end of the stick
• short straw

• “short end of the stick”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.