Get the short end of the stick means to receive unfair or worse treatment. The correct answer is this meaning because the expression is used figuratively, not only by its literal words.

Examples:

• New employees often get the short end of the stick.
• In an HSC essay, Get the short end of the stick can express this meaning: to receive unfair or worse treatment.
• When this expression appears in a passage, connect Get the short end of the stick with the idea of to receive unfair or worse treatment.