draw the short straw

English

Pronunciation

• Audio (AU):

  (file)

Verb

draw the short straw

1. To select the shortest straw or other object while drawing straws.
2. (idiomatic) To be selected to do an undesirable task (by drawing the shortest straw or otherwise).

   I drew the short straw and got stuck doing the whole project alone.

Translations

to select the shortest straw

• Finnish: vetää lyhyt tikku
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• French: tirer la courte paille

to be selected to do an undesirable task

• Finnish: vetää lyhyt tikku, jäädä Musta Pekka käteen
• French: tirer la courte paille
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Spanish: bailar con la más fea

See also

• short end of the stick
• shit end of the stick