Cliff notes

See also: cliff notes

English

Alternative forms

• cliff notes

Etymology

From the given name Clifton. Derived from Cliff's notes, a series of literature study guides published by Clifton Hillegass.

Noun

Cliff notes pl (plural only)

1. (US) A rundown (rough outline) of a situation, event, etc.
   • 2012, Gary Wayne Clark, The Devolution Chronicles: Rise of the Chimera, Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 105:

     Ryker stepped forward and blurted out the cliff notes of the current crisis.

   • 2014, CP Moore, Legacy of the Gods, CP Moore, →ISBN:

     Well, of course there's more, a lot more. But that's the cliff notes of what faces us once we find Sanderson.

   • 2015, Jack Fisher, The Escort and the Gigolo, Lulu Press, Inc, →ISBN:

     “If this is you being serious, I'll just give you the cliff notes of the plan for tonight,” said Ray.

   • 2017, “What North Korea Wants”, in Reuters War College‎^[1]:

     Can you give us the, the Cliff notes version of that?

Synonyms

• CliffsNotes version
• Coles Notes (Canada)

 

See also

• cheat sheet
• crib
• crib sheet