in a nutshell

English

The expression refers to the tidy, compact package.

Etymology

Calque of Latin in nuce.

Adverb

in a nutshell

  1. (idiomatic) In summary; briefly or simply.
    He had a lot to say, but his answer, in a nutshell, was no.
    • 1899, Joseph Conrad, Heart of Darkness, section 1
      The yarns of seamen have a direct simplicity, the whole meaning of which lies within the shell of a cracked nut.

Translations

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