Definition of "short shrift" []

• Summary, careless treatment; scant attention: These annoying memos will get short shrift from the boss. (noun)
• Quick work. (noun)
• A short respite, as from death. (noun)
• The brief time before execution granted a condemned prisoner for confession and absolution. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "“I hope we might make short shrift of running down Master Blueskin, for I declare I should make fine work of a rib or two of pork.”"
• "As we stuff our faces we talk ramblingly about the politics of scientific funding especially ecology versus molecular biology, with ecology getting short shrift and about the sociopolitical challenge of conserving biological diversity."
• "A working student may be more likely to give homework short shrift and find school an irritant if he is trying to make money and saveup for a car."