APAD: The short end of the stick

Meaning:

   To get the short end of the stick is to come off worst in a bargain or contest.

 

Background:

   The expression `the ... end of the stick' comes in many forms. The majority

   of these refer to getting the worse or, occasionally, the better part of a

   bargain. They inserted adjectives which indicate the bad outcome are `short',

   `crappy' or `blunt` (or their synonyms or antonyms). There is also the phrase

   `getting the wrong end of the stick', which has a different meaning, that is,

   `having the facts wrong' or simply `being mistaken'.

   

   Taking the occurrence of these in search engines as a guide, the four forms

   rank in popularity of current usage like this:

   

     1. Short/shorter/long.

     2. Wrong/rough/right.

     3. Shit/shitty/dirty/crap/crappy.

     4. Butt/blunt/pointy/pointed/thick.

     

   Both meanings of the phrase, that is, bad bargain or wrong facts, originated

   with a negative connotation. The `long end of the stick' and `right end of

   the stick' were coined later as simple opposites of their respective original

   form.

   ...

   

   `The short end of the stick' is by far the most commonly used form of the

   phrase. That is rather odd, in that the ends of sticks can be dirty or

   pointy, they can even be iridescent or hirsute, but it is difficult to see

   how they can be short. This has spawned the suggestion that `short' is simply

   a euphemism for `shit' - after all sticks can be shitty and that form of the

   phrase is also commonplace.

   ...

   

- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

In our nation's proud 5000-year history of great dynasties, rising and falling,

it was always the common folks who got the short end of the stick. The evil

feudal past, I was taught in school. I had since led a charmed life and rarely

thought outside my bubble.

 

Yesterday, I was shocked to read* that the government, after decades of

miraculous economic boom on the back of generations of Chinese labor, upped the

minimal monthly pension by 20RMB to 163RMB (about 22USD). Well, this is it, I

thought, the crappy end of the stick and it's not just the evil past after all.

 

* `The Tsunami Is Coming': China's Global Exports Are Just Getting Started --

  New York Times (Apr 8)

所有跟帖: 

right or wrong, "chives“ r always cut 2 the very short end -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 08:39:46

Some do grow tall, by hook or by crook, and then try to keep -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 08:59:30

the rest short. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 08:59:44

right, the tall ones r 即得利益者 by hook or by crook -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:18:07

"Y did the short end of the stick refuse to play hide &seek? -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 08:42:41

Because it knew it would always be found! " -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 08:43:26

Hard to wrap my head around this one. Is there a source? -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:35:54

it was a joke I saw somewhere bf ;-) Just tried but couldn't -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:14:50

find it, must b playing hide & seek now ;-))))) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:16:26

I saw countries knee down first got ripped off more -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 08:57:50

Would it matter to those earning a pension of $22 a month? -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:02:51

Sacrifice! depends on what 22$ can do @the time, remembered -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:13:47

family of 4 lived well with 2 working earn 100rmb/m -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:15:19

This day&age? Hard to imagine but I'll take your word for it -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:18:38

my parents used to make 50 some RMB/each, raising 2 childre, -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:38:28

Subsidized some relatives, -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:39:06

Those were the days. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:50:52

老百姓总是最倒霉的~ 出国出对了吗?我怎么一直怀恋国内的生活,养尊处优,太舒服了~ -妖妖灵- 给 妖妖灵 发送悄悄话 妖妖灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:09:13

有个朋友回国去找“有人伺候”的感觉 :-) -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:16:02

;-))))))))) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:27:48

我父母一个朋友早就移民美国,等到退休,经常回中国,住在旅馆,觉得中国哪儿哪儿都好都便宜:) -妖妖灵- 给 妖妖灵 发送悄悄话 妖妖灵 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:29:48

现在一般人海龟试试, 会被认为是loser.我朋友在上海经验一家税务公司雇几个小海龟 -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:56:36

等退休了两边走吧。走不动了再说:) -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:22:50

悄悄问美眉一声:拿了这边儿国籍的现在可以在中国长期居住吗?谢! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:29:28

可能不能长住,但是如果父母在,可以以照顾父母的名义申请什么证。但是政策都是会变的。 -暖冬cool夏- 给 暖冬cool夏 发送悄悄话 暖冬cool夏 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 13:10:13

过日子吧,各有千秋,都不错。但是对民主自由特感兴趣的,就在美国。哈哈 -永远老李- 给 永远老李 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:30:59

Or Canada, my country & 2nd hometown now !! -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:33:42

给加拿大加油。面对美国床铺的tariff 不要害怕。床铺在抽疯 -永远老李- 给 永远老李 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:41:36

;-))))))) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:43:38

每次唱O Canada时,我其实有点难开口,毕竟不是我真的 home&native land -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:53:22

more thanHalf neighbors on my street were born outsideCanada -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:58:41

Only real native people r native here. 2me,O Canada is 4 all -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:01:14

immigrants! We r seeds of Dandelions,landed & rooted:-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:04:09

不必太认真,我自从看到美国运动员穿着国旗做的裤衩以后释怀了 -永远老李- 给 永远老李 发送悄悄话 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:08:12

U R right on Chinese history. 兴,百姓苦;亡,百姓苦! -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:11:51

伤心秦汉,生民涂炭,读书人一声长叹! -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:13:53

Are 百姓 punished for wanting the other end of the stick? :-) -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:22:13

Regular folks have no options, nor rights to choose. -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:25:37

Once they got that chance, they'd make the same choice. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:29:23

they’re ignored -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:26:36

by whom? Those at the long end can't afford to ignore them. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:31:31

既得利益者?;-) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:46:45

The next dynasty will come from them. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:08:38

given a stick how can I tell which end is short? -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:16:25

the end makes U feel unhappy? ;-)) -最西边的岛上- 给 最西边的岛上 发送悄悄话 最西边的岛上 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:24:54

just bugging me couldn't figure out stick's short end -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:40:15

Well, 'short' could be a euphemism for 'sh*t' as explained. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:25:13

trying to comprehend, maybe use width/thickness 4 length -移花接木- 给 移花接木 发送悄悄话 移花接木 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:51:06

Many idioms are learned by rote. -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 10:12:45

163RMB of pension? 忧国忧民 -永远老李- 给 永远老李 发送悄悄话 (87 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:25:03

可能。有机会要核实一下。 -7grizzly- 给 7grizzly 发送悄悄话 7grizzly 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 09:27:39

各省市有区别。中西部省份,基本在180元左右。 -硅谷居士- 给 硅谷居士 发送悄悄话 硅谷居士 的博客首页 (0 bytes) () 04/09/2025 postreply 11:39:44

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