short shrift

noun

1. little attention or consideration in dealing with a person or matter:

   She'll give short shrift to such a weak argument.

2. a brief time for confession or absolution given to a condemned prisoner before their execution.

short shrift

noun

1. brief and unsympathetic treatment
2. (formerly) a brief period allowed to a condemned prisoner to make confession
3. make short shrift of
   to dispose of quickly and unsympathetically

Word History and Origins

Origin of short shrift¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

You can look at a syllabi of general biology courses from high school and college, and often ecology gets short shrift.

From Nautilus

She said it is difficult to operate two systems of learning at once without giving short shrift to one or both.

From Washington Post

The legislation has ignited questions over whether Maryland sufficiently protects forests for wildlife and water and air quality or allows too much tree loss by giving short shrift to new planting.

From Washington Post

If I have more people assigned to me than I can safely take care of as a nurse, somebody’s going to get short shrift.

From Washington Post

With no clear timeline on when schools would reopen for physical classes in India, parents feel their kids are being given the short shrift with online classes.

From Quartz

How an antiquated understanding of race relations results in minority staffers getting the short shrift.

From The Daily Beast

Traditional American notion of independence, permanency and identity with neighborhood are given short shrift in this approach.

From The Daily Beast

Likely, Harold would have accepted the short shrift with his usual cynic's grace.

From The Daily Beast

More vexing than the short-shrift mentions are the flat-out omissions.

From The Daily Beast

One reason we've given the single-parenthood problem short shrift is that we lack good ideas about how to address it.

From The Daily Beast

She appears to have Irish virtue in excess, and I expect the larky would get short shrift from her.

From Project Gutenberg

A joint commission drew up a well-considered plan, but in the face of a presidential election the Senate gave it short shrift.

From Project Gutenberg

As she came back Julia heard Val in the hall dismissing poor Emmie and her piano key with short shrift.

From Project Gutenberg

Certain it is she brought her wounded brother safe home to England, and prisoners in that war usually had short shrift.

From Project Gutenberg

I would give life-interest in rotten house property short shrift by burning the festering places.

From Project Gutenberg