the long and (the) short of it

the long and (the) short of it

The main idea or facts of something. That's the long and the short of it. If you want more details, you'll have to ask Laura. The long and short of it is that Kyle is quitting, so we need to fill his position fast.
See also: and, long, of, short
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

long and the short of it

 and short and the long of it
Fig. the most important point; the summary of the matter. Jill: Is there some reason that you've spent the last half hour complaining about Fred? Jane: The long and the short of it is, I hate working with him so much that I'm going to resign. Dad keeps saying that he can't spend the rest of his life in mourning for Mother. I finally asked him if he was thinking of getting married again. "That's the long and the short of it," he admitted.
See also: and, long, of, short
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.

long and short of it, the

The substance or gist of something, as in The first page of this report will give you the long and short of it. This expression, originally stated as the short and long of it, dates from about 1500, the present order being established by the end of the 1600s.
See also: and, long, of, short
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.

the long and the short of it

all that can or need be said.
1999 Tim Lott White City Blue His mother takes a lot of looking after, his wage is worse than Nodge's, and the long and short of it is he hasn't got a pot to piss in.
See also: and, long, of, short
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the long and (the) ˈshort of it

used to say what the basic facts of a situation are: The examiners discussed your paper for at least an hour, but I’m afraid the long and the short of it is that you have failed.
See also: and, long, of, short
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary

the long and the short of it

The substance or gist: You can look on the front page of the paper for the long and the short of it.
See also: and, long, of, short
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition.
See also:
  • long and short of it, the
  • long and the short of it
  • the long and short of it
  • the long and the short of it
  • will go a long way
  • it's a long story
  • go a long way
  • for (so) long
  • for long
  • take the long view