What does 'get the short straw' mean?

23

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.