How do you use "Long story short" in a sentence?

Long story short, we missed the flight. To make a long story short, they got married. Long story short, I got the job!

Long story short

Q: What does "Long story short" mean?

To summarize briefly; getting to the point. Used when skipping details to get to the main point or conclusion. Often used ironically before telling a long story anyway.

Slang Term BritishAmericanAustralian ★★★★★ Very Common Casual

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Meaning: To summarize briefly; getting to the point.

长话短说，总之

Para resumir; yendo al grano.

手短に言うと、要するに

요약하자면, 결론만 말하면

Used when skipping details to get to the main point or conclusion. Often used ironically before telling a long story anyway.

用于跳过细节直接说重点或结论。经常带有讽刺意味地在讲长故事之前使用。

Se usa cuando se omiten detalles para ir directamente al punto o a la conclusión. A menudo se usa irónicamente antes de contar una historia larga de todos modos.

詳細を省いて要点や結論に到達するために使う。皮肉にも、結局長い話をしてしまう前に使われることが多い。

세부 사항을 건너뛰고 이야기나 설명의 결론으로 바로 갈 때 사용합니다. 아이러니하게도 이 말 뒤에 장황한 설명이 이어지는 경우가 많습니다.

Literal meaning: Making a long story into a short one

Examples

Long story short, we missed the flight.
长话短说，我们没赶上飞机。
Resumiendo, perdimos el vuelo.
手短に言うと、飛行機に乗り遅れたんだ。
간단히 말하면, 비행기를 놓쳤어.
To make a long story short, they got married.
长话短说，他们结婚了。
Para no alargarme, se casaron.
かいつまんで言うと、二人は結婚した。
짧게 말하면, 둘은 결혼했어.
Long story short, I got the job!
总之，我得到那份工作了！
Resumiendo, ¡conseguí el trabajo!
結論から言うと、仕事をもらえたよ！
결론부터 말하면, 취직했어!

Pronunciation

/lɒŋ ˈstɔːri ʃɔːt/

Usage Guide

Context: storytelling, summaries, conversations

Tone: casual, efficient

✓ Do Say

Long story short...
长话短说……
resumiendo…
手短に言うと…
간단히 말하면…
To make a long story short...
简而言之……
para no alargarme…
かいつまんで言うと…
짧게 말하자면…

✗ Don't Say

Often followed by something that's still long
后面经常跟着的还是很长的故事
A menudo va seguido de algo que sigue siendo largo
この後にまだ長い話が続くことが多い
이 뒤에 여전히 긴 이야기가 이어지는 경우가 많음

Common Mistakes

Ironically often precedes a long explanation anyway

Origin & History

A phrase acknowledging that a full explanation would take too long.

Etymology: English idiom, shortened from 'to make a long story short'

First recorded: 19th century

Cultural Context

Era: 19th century to present

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal

Pop culture: Everyday conversation

Regional notes: Universal across English varieties.

Variations

Long story shortTo make a long story shortTo cut a long story short