What does 'get the short straw' mean? - YouTube
Feifei: This is The English We Speak,
I'm Feifei...
Rob: And hello, I'm Rob.
Feifei: Rob, it's very kind of you
to bring me to this cafe and
to buy me a milkshake -
I love milkshakes.
Rob: Did I say I was paying? Anyway,
I wanted to talk to you about work...
Feifei: ...mmm, strawberry, my favourite.
Rob: Errr, yes, me too... But back
to talking about work - you know
we're moving the desks around?...
Feifei: ...Why do milkshakes taste
so good?...oh look I've finished mine.
Rob: ...as I was trying to say, it looks like
you've got the short straw.
Feifei: Oh, that's why I've drunk
my milkshake quicker than you -
I had a short straw!
Rob: No, Feifei. Forget the milkshake -
if you get - or draw - the short straw,
it means you're the person in a group
who gets the most unpleasant
outcome in a situation.
Feifei: Right, and why have
I got the short straw?
Rob: Well, I'm afraid they're moving your
desk to just outside the toilet!
Feifei: We'll see about that - let's hear
some examples of other people who've
got the short straw...
It looks like I've got the short straw - I'm
doing the late shift whilst everyone else
goes to the pub!
Oh dear, Tom's got do the washing up
after our dinner party - looks like
he's got the short straw.
We were given free tickets to the theatre,
but I got the short straw because my seat
was right at the back and
I couldn't see a thing!
Feifei: This is The English We Speak
from BBC Learning English
and we're talking about
the expression 'to get the short straw',
which describes a person in a
group who gets the most
unpleasant or difficult outcome in
a situation. You can also say
'to draw the short straw'.
And Rob, you're saying I've got the
short straw in the office reshuffle?
Rob: Yep - that's why I thought
I'd take you for a milkshake as
a way of making you feel
better about it.
Feifei: You mean, as a way of saying sorry
more like. I've seen the new
office plan and you were
supposed to sit by the toilet
but you changed the name
to mine - what a cheek!
Rob: Well... errr... How about if
I pay for your milkshake?
Feifei: Maybe, if you buy me
another milkshake.
Rob: Oh OK then - remind me
what flavour?
Feifei: Strawberry - with TWO long straws.
