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in a nutshell
01
简而言之, 总之
used to summarize or describe something briefly
What is the origin of the idiom "in a nutshell" and when to use it?
The idiom "in a nutshell" originates from an ancient anecdote attributed to the Greek philosopher Pliny the Elder, who lived in the first century AD. According to the story, Pliny the Elder claimed that the entire Iliad by Homer could fit into a nutshell, implying that a complex or lengthy narrative could be summarized concisely. This anecdote later evolved into the expression we use today to mean providing a brief and condensed summary of something.
Example
The movie, in a nutshell, is about a group of friends who embark on an adventurous journey.
简而言之,这部电影是关于一群朋友 embark on 一次冒险的旅程。
In a nutshell, the company's new strategy focuses on expanding into emerging markets.
简而言之,总之,公司新的战略专注于扩展到新兴市场。