Nasty, brutish and short

Definitions

• describing something as unpleasant, cruel, and brief
  To characterize a situation or experience as harsh, unpleasant, and of short duration

• discourage someone
  Advise against engaging in a particular activity or task, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit

Examples of Nasty, brutish and short

• The hunger strike by the political prisoners in the overcrowded and unsanitary prison cell has left them looking emaciated and weak. This living condition can be aptly described as "nasty, brutish and short" as John Locke, the famous philosopher, put it.

  John Locke's famous quote, "Nasty, brutish and short," in his parliamentary treatise, "Two Treatises of Government," depicts the primitive life of human beings in a state of nature before the establishment of modern-day civil society. It highlights the condition of living in a state of fear, fights, and hunger, which is harsh, brutal, and short-lived. The prisoners' living condition is a real-life manifestation of this philosophical concept, where the incarcerated individuals are deprived of even the most basic necessities, leading them to a life that is nasty, brutish, and short. The hunger strike, in this case, reveals the desperation, as well as the cruel living conditions, of the prisoners, who are fighting against an unjust system.

• John's experience living in the slums was nasty, brutish and short.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation or experience that is dangerous, harsh, and brief. In this example, it is used to describe John's living conditions in the slums, which were not only unpleasant and uncomfortable but also short-lived.

• The political situation in the war-torn country was nasty, brutish and short.

  This idiom is used to describe a situation characterized by chaos, violence, and instability that is brief in duration. In this example, it refers to the unpredictable and potentially life-threatening political circumstances in conflict zones.

• The company's new venture turned out to be nasty, brutish and short.

  This idiom is used to describe a failed or unproductive endeavour that is unpleasant and short-lived. In this example, it alludes to a commercial initiative that was unprofitable and short-lived.

• Their relationship was nasty, brutish and short.

  This idiom is used to describe a brief and intense romantic or intimate connection that is tumultuous and unpleasant. In this example, it is being used to describe a stormy, brief relationship.

Conclusion

The idiom "nasty, brutish, and short" is used to describe something as harsh, unpleasant, and of short duration. It can also be used to advise against engaging in a particular activity, cautioning that it will not result in any positive outcome or benefit.

Origin of "Nasty, brutish and short"

The phrase "nasty, brutish, and short" comes from Thomas Hobbes' book "Leviathan," published in 1651. In this work, Hobbes describes the natural state of human life as "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short." He uses this phrase to illustrate his belief that without a strong central authority to impose order, life would be characterized by violence, suffering, and brevity. Over time, the phrase has come to be used more broadly to describe any unpleasant or harsh situation.