Translation guide
To be in a disadvantageous position or receive an unfair outcome, often compared to others.
Expressing that someone got a worse deal or outcome than others in a situation.
When someone is treated unfairly compared to others in a group, often in work or social settings.
Means that the negative effects or burdens are pushed onto someone. Often used when a weak person or group bears the brunt of a problem.
Do not translate 'stick' literally. The English idiom has no direct equivalent involving a stick in Japanese. Use the phrases above instead.
割を食う implies a comparison with others who got a better deal, while 損をする simply means to lose out, not necessarily in comparison. Use 割を食う when the unfairness relative to others is key.
A common idiom meaning to get the short end of the stick, to be at a disadvantage, or to suffer a loss in a deal or situation.
He always gets the short end of the stick.
In this deal, our company got the short end of the stick.
A straightforward way to say 'to lose out' or 'to be at a loss'. Less idiomatic than 割を食う but very common.
Only he got the short end of the stick.
Literally 'to be put in a disadvantageous position'. More formal and descriptive.
He is always put at a disadvantage.
Literally 'to draw the poverty lot'. A colloquial idiom meaning to get the worst of it or the short end of the stick. Slightly old-fashioned.
I got the short end of the stick again.
The short end of the stick from restructuring always goes to the lower-level employees.
Also works here, emphasizing the disadvantageous outcome.
The more serious you are, the more you get the short end of the stick.