50+ Catchy Idioms for Short: Master Brevity in Style

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#IdiomMeaningExample
1In a nutshellSummarize briefly“In a nutshell, we’re launching next month.”
2Short and sweetBrief and pleasant“Her speech was short and sweet.”
3Cut to the chaseGet to the point“Let’s cut to the chase and finalize the deal.”
4Make a long story shortSummarize quickly“Long story short, we canceled the trip.”
5Keep it briefBe concise“Please keep it brief during the meeting.”
6In briefIn summary“In brief, the plan is approved.”
7To sum upConclude concisely“To sum up, we need more data.”
8In shortQuickly summarize“In short, sales are up 15%.”
9On the short sideSlightly shorter than desired“The report was on the short side.”
10Short shriftMinimal attention or consideration“They gave his idea short shrift.”
11Bite-sized chunksSmall, digestible parts“Break it into bite-sized chunks.”
12To the pointDirect and concise“His instructions were to the point.”
13Hit the high pointsCover key details only“Just hit the high points of the report.”
14A quick rundownBrief summary“Here’s a quick rundown of the meeting.”
15Short and snappyConcise and lively“His pitch was short and snappy.”
16Wrap it upFinish quickly“Let’s wrap it up for today.”
17Get to the pointBe direct“Just get to the point, please.”
18No long-winded explanationsAvoid lengthy explanations“No long-winded explanations—just the facts.”
19Skip the detailsOmit less important info“Skip the details and give me the summary.”
20Say it in one breathExpress concisely“She said it all in one breath.”
21Quick and easyFast and simple“This recipe is quick and easy.”
22Give it in a nutshellSummarize briefly“Give it to me in a nutshell, please.”
23Sum it all upConclude concisely“Let’s sum it all up.”
24ShortcutFaster or simpler way“He took a shortcut to finish early.”
25Blink and you’ll miss itVery brief“The scene was so fast, blink and you’d miss it.”
26Short orderDone quickly“They fixed it in short order.”
27Brief and to the pointConcise and clear“His feedback was brief and to the point.”
28Give a thumbnail sketchProvide a brief outline“He gave a thumbnail sketch of the proposal.”
29In miniatureSmall or reduced version“It’s like a city in miniature.”
30Condensed versionShortened or summarized form“She shared a condensed version of the story.”
31Brevity is the soul of witConciseness is key“Brevity is the soul of wit in writing.”
32Get down to brass tacksGet to the basics“Let’s get down to brass tacks.”
33Keep it conciseMake it brief“Keep it concise for the readers.”
34Say it in a nutshellExplain briefly“Say it in a nutshell, please.”
35Stick to the pointStay focused“Stick to the point during the meeting.”
36Keep it tightKeep it brief and focused“Keep the content tight and relevant.”
37In passingMention briefly“She mentioned it in passing.”
38In a flashVery quickly“The idea came to me in a flash.”
39Snap decisionQuick decision“He made a snap decision.”
40Quick as a winkVery fast“She was out of the door quick as a wink.”
41In the blink of an eyeInstantly“The scene changed in the blink of an eye.”
42Skim the surfaceLook at only the basics“He only skimmed the surface of the issue.”
43Skim overReview quickly“Just skim over the report before submitting.”
44Short stintBrief period of time“She did a short stint in marketing.”
45Short-livedNot lasting long“Their success was short-lived.”
46Swift and sureQuick and confident“Her response was swift and sure.”
47Short work of itFinish quickly“They made short work of the task.”
48Short-handedHaving fewer people than needed“We’re a bit short-handed today.”
49Without delayImmediately“Proceed without delay.”
50Just a snippetSmall portion“Here’s just a snippet of the interview.”

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