short end
Unfavorable bargain position
The short end is the disadvantaged portion of an unequal division.
Someone who gets the short end of the stick receives less than their fair share or winds up in the worse position.
In finance, the short end of the yield curve refers to bonds with shorter maturities.
The phrase implies being shortchanged—ending up with the smaller, less desirable piece.
Lacking social or economic resources
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- shortchangedGiven insufficient payment
- cheatedActed dishonestly to win
- exploitedUnfairly utilized for benefit
marginalized · overlooked · undervalued · inequity · disparity · discrimination · bias · injustice
Deficient in quantity
- paltryContemptibly meager
- skimpyInadequate in size or amount
- scantBarely adequate amount
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
inadequate · insufficient · deficient · pittance · crumbs · scraps · leftovers · slim pickings
Prone to misfortune
- hard luckPersistent ill fortune
- setbackReverse in progress
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
- hardshipSuffering from difficult circumstances
struggle · victim · loser · also-ran · fall guy · scapegoat · patsy · whipping boy
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- outmaneuveredDefeated through superior tactics
- undercutSell cheaper than rivals
- swindledDeceived for gain
fleeced · ripped off · bad deal · duped · conned · hustled · bamboozled · outsmarted
disadvantaged
Lacking social or economic resources
- underdogPresumed loser beforehand
- shortchangedGiven insufficient payment
- cheatedActed dishonestly to win
exploited · marginalized · overlooked · undervalued · inequity · disparity · discrimination · bias · injustice · raw deal
meager
Deficient in quantity
sparse · inadequate · insufficient · deficient · pittance · crumbs · scraps · leftovers · slim pickings · bare minimum
unlucky
Prone to misfortune
hardship · struggle · victim · loser · also-ran · fall guy · scapegoat · patsy · whipping boy · tough break
negotiation
Discussion seeking mutual accord
- bargainingNegotiating mutually acceptable terms
- outmaneuveredDefeated through superior tactics
- undercutSell cheaper than rivals
swindled · fleeced · ripped off · bad deal · duped · conned · hustled · bamboozled · outsmarted · outfoxed
- hardshipshardship, adversity, struggle, misfortune, difficulties
- yield curvesyield curve, normal curve, steep curve, curve flattening, inversion
- lamentslamentation, wailing, keen, keening, lament
- unfairnessunfair, unjust, biased, unequal, inequitable
- measurement idiomsinch by inch, give an inch, whole nine yards, by a mile, go the extra mile
short endlion's share
Greatest part of total
better half · upper hand · winning side · fair share · advantage