it's a long story

English

Phrase

it's a long story

1. The situation is too complicated or extensive to talk about.
2. The situation is too embarrassing to talk about.

Usage notes

May be shortened to long story:

You remember that thing with the girl, the tomato juice and the monkey, how did that end?

- Long story, just get in the car.

Related terms

• long story short

Translations

situation is too complicated to talk about

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 說來話長／说来话长 (zh) (shuōláihuàcháng), 一言難盡／一言难尽 (zh) (yīyánnánjìn)

• Czech: to je na dlouhé povídání
• Dutch: dat is een lang verhaal, lang verhaal

References

• “long story”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.