by 432Cherries December 8, 2019
An English idiom meaning to get something wrong by one's approach by making stupid assumptions. To think that something you've been offered is the opposite of what it is. To confuse left and right. To turn an ability into a disability, a solution into a problem.
The wrong end, as opposed to the right end of the stick.
It goes back to the medieval, when people use staffs, or a general purpose stick. One end would be held by its owner.
The right end of the stick is the driving seat, the nice, clean, comfy end.
The wrong end is the dirty, ugly pig-swill stirring, beating-dealing, non-walking-enhancing end.
Picking up another's stick by the wrong end is the sign of an idiot, it often signifies a favour turned into a curse by the recipient by of their foolish eagerness to play the game.
The wrong end, as opposed to the right end of the stick.
It goes back to the medieval, when people use staffs, or a general purpose stick. One end would be held by its owner.
The right end of the stick is the driving seat, the nice, clean, comfy end.
The wrong end is the dirty, ugly pig-swill stirring, beating-dealing, non-walking-enhancing end.
Picking up another's stick by the wrong end is the sign of an idiot, it often signifies a favour turned into a curse by the recipient by of their foolish eagerness to play the game.
"Nice Rottweiler" said Rufus. I told Rufus the guard dog was having a bad day today, had been growling a lot. What did he do? He went skipping right up to it, tried to cheer it up "oooh poor doggie" and it bit him in the face. Totally got the wrong end of the stick.
by Horton Cum-Studley January 20, 2012
Don't lend Mitch your broom. He will stick it in his ass and leave you with the shit end of the stick. He always does.
by Millerrtime613 August 24, 2017
My grandfather grew up in poverty in a company owned coal mining town where he was born in 1895. He yold me about a game they played called the fox and the hounds whenever a new kid came to town. One kid was the fox. He carried a stick between his legs to simulate a tail. The object was for the hounds to chase the fox and capture him by grabbing his tail. They always let the new kid win. Unbeknownst to him the had dipped the end of the stick in the muck of an outhouse. Clearly getting the shit end of the stick was getting a bad and unanticipated result.
He got the shit end of the stick.
by jp0 August 9, 2018
I FUCKED HER ASS SO GO GOOD AND THEN SHE GAVE ME HEAD, I MADE SURE SHE GOT THE SHIT END OF THE STICK....
by datkrazymexikan December 1, 2010
"Wait a minute Jack, I've been in prison for three years. If she's been getting the short end of the stick, maybe she'd like to go a couple of laps around the track with us!"
by brendan June 27, 2004
by jonblo November 23, 2020