No Overtime Pay for Astronauts Stuck In Space
get the short end of the stick: to be treated unfairly or to receive less than others in a situation
Being an astronaut is maybe the most exciting job there is, but it’s not the best paying. Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were supposed to stay in space for only eight days. After their spacecraft had problems, they had to stay nine extra months on the International Space Station.
When they finally returned to Earth, they landed in the ocean. They were warmly welcomed home by dolphins surrounding their return capsule. But they were not welcomed back with any overtime pay. The only extra money they got was a $5 per day allowance that all government workers get when traveling.
Astronauts take big risks when they go to space. Their bodies suffer from muscle and bone loss, and when they return, they often need help walking. Many people say they got the short end of the stick after receiving so little for their long work hours. Space may be infinite, but NASA’s budget for overtime isn’t.
Sample sentences
Everyone at work got a raise except for Marco, even though he had been there the longest. It was clear he got the short end of the stick.
The twins were supposed to share house chores equally, but Lisa always ended up doing more than her brother. She was tired of getting the short end of the stick.
The company gave free lunches to employees, but remote workers like Alex got nothing. He felt like he got the short end of the stick.
Origin
The exact origin of this expression is not clear, but it likely comes from older phrases about unfair deals where one person received a smaller or worse portion of something, like a piece of wood.