etymology - Origin of "the wrong end of the stick"


If someone has the wrong end of the stick it means they've misunderstood something.


If they've got the shitty end of the stick it means they've got a bad deal in some bargain or share-out. This doesn't seem particularly close to the wrong end meaning - so unless someone convinces me different, I'm not inclined to think these idioms share a common origin.


Does anyone know where either or both of these expressions come from?



Answer



According to The Phrase Finder, the two share the same origin, not really diverging in meaning until 1850 or so.


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