In a nutshell

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Meaning

Summed up short and sweet, the core.

Origin

From 16th-century England, tied to Pliny; 'Iliad' in a nutshell meant tiny, slang by 1600s for brief. A 1660s Pepys note uses it for a short tale.

Variants

  • Nutshell

Usage Examples

  • In a nutshell, we're broke-simple!
  • She put it in a nutshell; great pitch.
  • In a nutshell, he's the best choice.

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