the low-down
informal

- the true facts or relevant information about something

The Oxford Dictionary

—
ORIGIN

The origin of the meaning of “the low-down” is unknown, but without the “THE” lowdown means “far down the social scale” (from 1888). In the 1540s it had meant “humble” (bescheiden, ärmlich).

—
K.I.S.S. (KEEP IT SHORT & SIMPLE)

In presenting THE LOW-DOWN, many of us struggle to be short, sharp, and clear. Mark Twain famously apologised at the beginning of a letter to a friend: “I didn’t have time to write you a short letter, so I wrote you a long one”.

—
SYNONYMS

a heads-up, chapter and verse, relevant information, the (inside) dope, the bottom line, the brass tacks, the drum, the essentials, the (hard) facts, the gen, the inside information, the inside story, the latest, THE LOW-DOWN, the particulars, the score, the specifics, the what’s what, the word about.

—
PRACTICE OWAD in an English conversation, say something like:

“I have the meeting in 5 minutes from now, can you quickly give me THE LOW-DOWN?”

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations at:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-3

Paul Smith