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Region: General | Usage example: To make a long story short, we won the case.

Make a long story short

Meaning

Summarize briefly.

Usage

Used to jump to the conclusion.

Origin & History

Origin notes can vary by region and source; this page gives the commonly reported explanation and usage context.

Storytelling shorthand phrase.

19th-century letters and oral storytelling.

Related Idioms

Long in the tooth

Getting old.

Make waves

Cause disturbance or draw attention by challenging norms.

Make a mountain out of a molehill

Exaggerate minor issues.

More Idioms

Break the ice

To do or say something to relieve tension or get conversation going in a social situation.

Cut to the chase

Skip ahead to the most important or exciting part of something.

The ball is in your court

It is now your turn to take action or make a decision.

Throw in the towel

To concede defeat or admit a struggle isn't worth continuing.