the long and short

Noun

Meaning

the long and short

(usually followed by of) The gist; the essence or substance; the most important or salient features.
The speech went on for hours, but the long and short of it is that not much has changed since last year.

Source: en.wiktionary.org

Synonyms

summary digest upshot

Examples

The long and short of it is, we need more rigor in all kinds of programs. Margaret Spellings

The long and short of it is that I am now in a position in England to green light movies, and that's really excellent - not high-budget movies, but movies none the less. Idris Elba

Close letter words and terms

the living daylights out of the living end The Lobster the long and the short of it the long arm of the law the long island of america