to draw the short end of the stick
- idiom
- Informal
:
sacar la peor parte
- Unfortunately, our team drew the short end of the stick and had to work the holiday shift.
Examples
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She always seems to draw the short end of the stick when chores are assigned.
-
If you don't want to draw the short end of the stick, you'd better volunteer early.
-
I always seem to draw the short end of the stick in group projects.
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She feels like she always draws the short end of the stick in life.
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She always seems to draw the short end of the stick when chores are assigned.
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If you want to avoid drawing the short end of the stick, make sure to volunteer first.
-
Unfortunately, our team drew the short end of the stick and had to work the holiday shift.
Synonyms
8
7.1
To get a worse or unfair result than others
6
6.2
To be chosen by chance to do an unpleasant task
1
6.7
Put someone into a difficult situation they cannot control because of bad luck
1
7.9
To put someone into a bad or difficult situation because of bad luck
To be given unfair, unpleasant tasks or treatment
Antonyms
Surface Forms
Morphology
draw + the + short + end + of + the + stick
The verb 'draw' clearly signals selection by chance and 'short' + 'end' suggests receiving a smaller or inferior portion, so the parts together hint at being assigned an unlucky or disadvantageous outcome. However, the specific idiomatic sense 'be at a disadvantage' depends on the metaphorical phrase 'short end (of the stick)' and may not be fully predictable for a B1 learner without exposure, so it is only partially transparent.
Etymology
The idiom draw the short end of the stick comes from a simple game: people put sticks of different lengths in a pile and each person draws one, and getting the short end meant you lost and had to do the worst job. So, the phrase now means 'to be chosen for something unpleasant or to be at a disadvantage'.