in a nutshell
In a nutshell (phrase) means used to introduce a very short summary of something complicated, giving only the essential point. Example: “In a nutshell, we ran out of money before we ran out of ideas.”
How to Use In a nutshell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSaid before you explain something long in one quick sentence.
Neutral to informal; very common in speech.
It can sit at the start of a sentence or be dropped into the middle between commas: that, in a nutshell, is the problem.
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, we ran out of money before we ran out of ideas.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for in a nutshell
See all rhymes for in a nutshell →Frequently Asked Questions
Where does the phrase in a nutshell come from?
It draws on the image of something so small it could be written on a scrap of paper and packed inside a nutshell. The idea of an enormous text fitting into a nutshell was a stock classical example of extreme compression long before the phrase settled into everyday English.
What is the difference between in a nutshell and in short?
They are near-identical in meaning. In a nutshell is warmer and more conversational and usually signals a whole explanation boiled down; in short is slightly more formal and often cuts off a list or an argument already under way.
Is in a nutshell formal enough for writing?
It is fine in emails, presentations and popular writing, but it counts as an idiom, so academic and legal prose usually prefers in summary or in brief.