diff --git a/gateway/run.py b/gateway/run.py
index c069553a..198d23f6 100644
--- a/gateway/run.py
+++ b/gateway/run.py
@@ -4359,9 +4359,9 @@ class GatewayRunner:
         cycle = ["off", "new", "all", "verbose"]
         descriptions = {
             "off": "⚙️ Tool progress: **OFF** — no tool activity shown.",
-            "new": "⚙️ Tool progress: **NEW** — shown when tool changes.",
-            "all": "⚙️ Tool progress: **ALL** — every tool call shown.",
-            "verbose": "⚙️ Tool progress: **VERBOSE** — full args and results.",
+            "new": "⚙️ Tool progress: **NEW** — shown when tool changes (short previews).",
+            "all": "⚙️ Tool progress: **ALL** — every tool call shown (short previews).",
+            "verbose": "⚙️ Tool progress: **VERBOSE** — every tool call with full arguments.",
         }
 
         raw_progress = user_config.get("display", {}).get("tool_progress", "all")
@@ -5419,22 +5419,28 @@ class GatewayRunner:
             from agent.display import get_tool_emoji
             emoji = get_tool_emoji(tool_name, default="⚙️")
             
-            # Verbose mode: show detailed arguments
-            if progress_mode == "verbose" and args:
-                import json as _json
-                args_str = _json.dumps(args, ensure_ascii=False, default=str)
-                if len(args_str) > 200:
-                    args_str = args_str[:197] + "..."
-                msg = f"{emoji} {tool_name}({list(args.keys())})\n{args_str}"
+            # Verbose mode: show detailed arguments, respects tool_preview_length
+            if progress_mode == "verbose":
+                if args:
+                    from agent.display import get_tool_preview_max_len
+                    _pl = get_tool_preview_max_len()
+                    import json as _json
+                    args_str = _json.dumps(args, ensure_ascii=False, default=str)
+                    _cap = _pl if _pl > 0 else 200
+                    if len(args_str) > _cap:
+                        args_str = args_str[:_cap - 3] + "..."
+                    msg = f"{emoji} {tool_name}({list(args.keys())})\n{args_str}"
+                elif preview:
+                    msg = f"{emoji} {tool_name}: \"{preview}\""
+                else:
+                    msg = f"{emoji} {tool_name}..."
                 progress_queue.put(msg)
                 return
             
+            # "all" / "new" modes: short preview, always truncated (40 chars)
             if preview:
-                # Truncate preview unless config says unlimited
-                from agent.display import get_tool_preview_max_len
-                _pl = get_tool_preview_max_len()
-                if _pl > 0 and len(preview) > _pl:
-                    preview = preview[:_pl - 3] + "..."
+                if len(preview) > 40:
+                    preview = preview[:37] + "..."
                 msg = f"{emoji} {tool_name}: \"{preview}\""
             else:
                 msg = f"{emoji} {tool_name}..."