Search
Select the dictionary language
in a nutshell
01
used to summarize or describe something briefly
Idiom
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.
Examples
The movie, in a nutshell, is about a group of friends who embark on an adventurous journey.
