long story
1 of 1interjection/ˈlɔŋ ˈstɔri/
1
a thorough explanation of how something happened
The idiom "long story" is an informal expression that has evolved over time to indicate a complex or time-consuming narrative. Its origin lies in the tendency of individuals to preface or follow up a detailed account with the phrase "long story" to warn listeners that the explanation may take a considerable amount of time. This idiom is a colloquial way of signaling that there is more information than can be conveniently conveyed in a brief or succinct manner.
- I got lost on my way here, but long story short, I finally made it.
- She borrowed my car and, long story, it ended up needing major repairs.
- Long story, but I ended up with two tickets to the concert instead of one.
- I accidentally deleted the important file, and, long story, I had to retrieve it from the backup.
- We had some complications during the project, and, long story, we had to extend the deadline.