To cut a long story short Definition 1 of 1Pro Tip 1/3Conversational Shortcut Use it to skip details in casual talks, showing only the outcome or conclusion matters. To cut a long story short, they got married in Vegas. Pro Tip 2/3Suspense Breaker It can reduce suspense by revealing the end of a narrative abruptly. To cut a long story short, the dog found its way home. Pro Tip 3/3Unexpected Outcome It's often used to introduce a twist or surprising event in the storyline. To cut a long story short, I turned down the job offer.