Cut a long story short
Meaning
To summarize a narrative quickly and directly, omitting many details to get to the main point.
Origin
Imagine a weary listener, or a storyteller aware of fading attention, in the days before instant communication. Narratives were long, winding roads, often filled with digressions and elaborate details. To 'cut a long story short' was a conscious, almost physical act of verbal editing—like snipping away the extraneous parts of a fabric or film reel to reveal the essential core. While the exact moment it was first uttered is lost to time, the phrase gained significant traction in the 18th century, appearing in popular literature as a signal from the narrator to the audience: 'Let's dispense with the trimmings and get to the heart of the matter, swiftly.' It perfectly captured the desire for brevity, a verbal concession to the swift pace of modern life and discourse.
Examples
- We traveled for hours, got lost, and nearly ran out of petrol, but to cut a long story short, we eventually made it to the concert.
- There were numerous challenges with the project timeline, personnel, and budget, but to cut a long story short, we managed to deliver it successfully.