the short and the long of it

the short and the long of it

The essential or most important point being made; the plain truth of the matter. There are a lot of reasons I don't want to go, but the short and the long of it is that I don't want to see my ex-boyfriend there. Bob, the short and the long of it is that we aren't satisfied with your performance in work lately.
See also: and, long, of, short
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
See also:
  • (as) plain as the nose on (one's) face
  • be as plain as the nose on (one's) face
  • vanilla
  • (as) plain as day
  • plain as day
  • plain
  • plain as day/the nose on your face
  • day
  • get to the heart of
  • get to the heart of (something)