Word: gist (noun)

Associations

The word "gist" means the main point or the essential part of something, especially what someone is trying to say or the main idea of a story or conversation.

• When you read a long article but only remember the main idea, you remember the gist.
• If someone tells you a complicated story, you might say, "I got the gist," meaning you understood the main point.
• In a meeting, if you miss some details but understand the overall plan, you have the gist of the discussion.

A well-known synonym is "essence." The difference is that "essence" is often more formal and can mean the fundamental nature of something, while "gist" is more about the main idea in speech or writing.

Substitution

You can use:

• main idea
• essence (more formal)
• core
• summary (if you want a brief explanation)

Using "summary" might mean a longer explanation than just the gist, which is usually very short and informal.

Deconstruction

The word "gist" comes from Old French "giste," meaning "it lies," from the verb "gésir" (to lie, as in to rest or be situated). It originally referred to the legal meaning of where something lies, then evolved to mean the main point or essence of a matter.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when someone explained something complicated and you only needed the gist?
• How do you decide what the gist of a story is when you read or listen?
• Is the gist always enough, or do you sometimes need all the details? Why?