Quiz: "brick" or "stick"?

The correct answer is: stick

When it comes to wages, women are still getting the short end of the stick.

If you get the short end of the stick, you are unfairly treated or are at a real disadvantage.

get the short end of the stick = den Kürzeren ziehen

Last week, Germany's Federal Statistical Office released  new figures that showed that women in Germany are certainly getting the short end of the stick when it comes to pay.  According to the report, the average gross hourly earnings for women in 2008 were 23.2 per cent lower than they were for men. This is worse than the European average of 18 per cent. While the European Commission called the situation in Germany "unacceptable", it is also concerned about the fact that the wage gap in Europe hasn’t improved in the past 15 years, and is promising action — possibly legislation — to promote wage equality across the continent.

More idioms with "stick"

to get the wrong end of the stick (etwas falsch verstehen) – to misunderstand a situation:

"No, you've got the wrong end of the stick. I'm sure Anne would be pleased to take Jeff's place at the workshop."

more than you can shake a stick at (eine große Anzahl) – a very informal expression meaning "a lot, too many to count":

"There were more IT consultants at the conference than you could shake a stick at."

get/take a lot of stick or come in for a lot of stick (viel Kritik oder Spott einstecken müssen) – to be criticized or laughed at because of something that you do:

"I got a lot of stick for the comments I made in the meeting."
"The company has come in for a lot of stick over its treatment of immigrant labourers."
Try another:

"Wow, this Beatles record is in _____ condition! You could sell it for big money on eBay!"

• mint
• mink