The short end of the stick 占不着便宜，吃亏
Stick是枝条或者棍子。从本世纪初开始美国人惯于把任何处于劣势的称为the short end。这可能来自拔河比赛。嬴家手上掌握著长的一头。就是the long end， 而输家则是短的一头，也就是the short end。到了三十年代末这个短语后面添加了the stick，成了今天的the short end of the stick。
Someone can go to a party, someone has to work. For those who stays, they’re the people holding the short end of the stick.
