in a nutshell
In summary; briefly or simply.
He had a lot to say, but his answer, in a nutshell, was no.
nutshell
/ˈnʌt.ʃɛl/
noun 3verb 1
Collocations
4ADJ.
all, all, lost
VERB + NUTSHELL
bounded
NUTSHELL + NOUN
consciousness, he's, myself, squirrel, watson, we're
PREP.
in
Definitions
noun
1
The shell that surrounds the kernel of a nut.
For men be now tratlers and tellers of tales; What tidings at Totnam, what newis in Wales, What ſhippis are ſailing to Scalis Malis? And all is not worth a couple of nut ſhalis.
2
A short book summarizing an area of law.
3
A small boat; a boat considered small in comparison to the seas.
[A]t last the fishing-line stood straight out behind, and the stone weights jumped along the tops of the billows, while the seas - notwithstanding the guiding hand of the pilot sought to avoid them - broke over our little nutshell, and sent the spray high above mast and sail.
verb
1
To summarize (from the term in a nutshell).
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & Phrases
Example Bank
601
For men be now tratlers and tellers of tales; What tidings at Totnam, what newis in Wales, What ſhippis are ſailing to Scalis Malis? And all is not worth a couple of nut ſhalis.
Wiktionary02
[A]t last the fishing-line stood straight out behind, and the stone weights jumped along the tops of the billows, while the seas - notwithstanding the guiding hand of the pilot sought to avoid them -
Wiktionary03
They say fine words are no virtue if they're insincere and that's him in a nutshell. He's all talk but doesn't mean a word of it.
Tatoeba · #7199404
I don't really like him, in a nutshell, I think he is an idiot.
Tatoeba · #106438105
"So, that's what happened to Tom's squirrel?" "Yes, in a nutshell."
Tatoeba · #329508806
The universe in a nutshell: I am consciousness.
Tatoeba · #3450232Usage Notes
Your note
not saved0 chars