diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index e96d295..6d24557 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ If the Pydantic data model fields are reasonable well named (e.g., 'min_score',
 
 Customizing the commandline flags or the description can be done by leveraging  `description` keyword argument in `Field` from `pydantic`. See [`Field` model in Pydantic](https://pydantic-docs.helpmanual.io/usage/schema/) more details. 
 
+Custom 'short' or 'long' forms of the commandline args can be provided by using a `Tuple[str]` or `Tuple2[str, str]`. For example, `cli=('-m', '--max-records')` or `cli=('--max-records',)`.
+
 **Note**, Pydantic interprets `...` as a "required" value when used in `Field`.
 
 ```python
@@ -91,9 +93,9 @@ from pydantic_cli import run_and_exit
 
 
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
-    input_file: str = Field(..., description="Path to Input H5 file", extras={'cli':('-i', '--input-file')})
-    max_records: int = Field(..., description="Max records to process", extras={'cli':('-m', '--max-records')})
-    debug: bool = Field(False, description="Enable debugging mode", extras={'cli': ('-d', '--debug')})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., description="Path to Input H5 file", cli=('-i', '--input-file'))
+    max_records: int = Field(..., description="Max records to process", cli=('-m', '--max-records'))
+    debug: bool = Field(False, description="Enable debugging mode", cli= ('-d', '--debug'))
 
     
 def example_runner(opts: MinOptions) -> int:
@@ -114,8 +116,8 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
-    input_file: str = Field(..., description="Path to Input H5 file", extras={'cli':('-i', '--input-file')})
-    max_records: int = Field(..., gt=0, lte=1000, description="Max records to process", extras={'cli':('-m', '--max-records')})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., description="Path to Input H5 file", cli=('-i', '--input-file'))
+    max_records: int = Field(..., gt=0, lte=1000, description="Max records to process", cli=('-m', '--max-records'))
 
 ```
 
@@ -311,7 +313,7 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
-    debug: bool = Field(False, description="Enable debug mode", extras={'cli':('-d', '--debug')})
+    debug: bool = Field(False, description="Enable debug mode", cli=('-d', '--debug'))
 ```
 
 If the default is `True`, running the example below with `--disable-debug` will set `debug` to `False`.
@@ -321,7 +323,7 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
-    debug: bool = Field(True, description="Disable debug mode", extras={'cli':('-d', '--disable-debug')})
+    debug: bool = Field(True, description="Disable debug mode", cli=('-d', '--disable-debug'))
 ```
 
 ### Boolean Required Field
@@ -335,7 +337,7 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 
 
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
-    debug: bool = Field(..., description="Enable/Disable debugging", extras={'cli': ('--enable-debug', '--disable-debug')})
+    debug: bool = Field(..., description="Enable/Disable debugging", cli= ('--enable-debug', '--disable-debug'))
 ```
 **Currently, supplying the short form of each "enable" and "disable" is not supported**. 
 
@@ -351,9 +353,9 @@ from pydantic import BaseModel, Field
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
     a: Optional[bool]
     b: Optional[bool] = None
-    c: Optional[bool] = Field(None, extras={'cli': ('--yes-c', '--no-c')})
-    d: Optional[bool] = Field(False, extras={'cli':('--enable-d', '--disable-d')})
-    e: Optional[bool] = Field(..., extras={'cli':('--enable-e', '--disable-e')})
+    c: Optional[bool] = Field(None, cli= ('--yes-c', '--no-c'))
+    d: Optional[bool] = Field(False, cli=('--enable-d', '--disable-d'))
+    e: Optional[bool] = Field(..., cli=('--enable-e', '--disable-e'))
 ```
 Note, that `x:Optional[bool]`, `x:Optional[bool] = None`, `x:Optional[bool] = Field(None)` semantically mean the same thing in Pydantic.
 
@@ -417,8 +419,8 @@ from pydantic_cli import run_and_exit
 
 
 class MinOptions(BaseModel):
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={'cli':('-i',)})
-    max_records: int = Field(10, extras={'cli':('-m', '--max-records')})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=('-i',))
+    max_records: int = Field(10, cli=('-m', '--max-records'))
 
 
 def example_runner(opts: MinOptions) -> int:
@@ -485,13 +487,13 @@ from pydantic_cli import run_sp_and_exit, SubParser
 
 
 class AlphaOptions(BaseModel):
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={'cli':('-i',)})
-    max_records: int = Field(10, extras={'cli':('-m', '--max-records')})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=('-i',))
+    max_records: int = Field(10, cli=('-m', '--max-records'))
 
 
 class BetaOptions(BaseModel):
-    url: AnyUrl = Field(..., extras={'cli':('-u', '--url')})
-    num_retries: int = Field(3, extras={'cli':('-n', '--num-retries')})
+    url: AnyUrl = Field(..., cli=('-u', '--url'))
+    num_retries: int = Field(3, cli=('-n', '--num-retries'))
 
 
 def printer_runner(opts: T.Any):
@@ -663,9 +665,9 @@ class MinOptions(BaseModel):
     class Config(DefaultConfig):
         CLI_JSON_ENABLE = True
     
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={'cli':('-i', )})
-    input_hdf: str = Field(..., extras={'cli':('-d', '--hdf')})
-    max_records: int = Field(100, extras={'cli':('-m', '--max-records')})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=('-i', ))
+    input_hdf: str = Field(..., cli=('-d', '--hdf'))
+    max_records: int = Field(100, cli=('-m', '--max-records'))
 ```
 
 Running with the `preset.json` defined above, works as expected.
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/__init__.py b/pydantic_cli/__init__.py
index 4cdf1b4..3d4cd82 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/__init__.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/__init__.py
@@ -213,6 +213,14 @@ def __add_boolean_arg_to_parser(
     return parser
 
 
+def __get_cli_key_by_alias(d: T.Dict) -> T.Any:
+    # for backwards compatibility
+    try:
+        return d["extras"]["cli"]
+    except KeyError:
+        return d["cli"]
+
+
 def _add_pydantic_field_to_parser(
     parser: CustomArgumentParser,
     field_id: str,
@@ -269,7 +277,7 @@ def _add_pydantic_field_to_parser(
     try:
         # cli_custom Should be a tuple2[Str, Str]
         cli_custom: CustomOptsType = __process_tuple(
-            extra["extras"]["cli"], default_long_arg
+            __get_cli_key_by_alias(extra), default_long_arg
         )
     except KeyError:
         if override_cli is None:
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/_version.py b/pydantic_cli/_version.py
index 76ad18b..7039708 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/_version.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/_version.py
@@ -1 +1 @@
-__version__ = "4.0.1"
+__version__ = "4.1.0"
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_schema.py b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_schema.py
index 4539841..5d211df 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_schema.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_schema.py
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ class Config(ExampleConfigDefaults):
         title="Input File",
         description="Path to the input file",
         # required=True, # this is implicitly set by ...
-        extras={"cli": ("-f", "--input-file")},
+        cli=("-f", "--input-file"),
     )
 
     max_records: int = Field(
@@ -29,14 +29,14 @@ class Config(ExampleConfigDefaults):
         title="Max Records",
         description="Max number of records",
         gt=0,
-        extras={"cli": ("-m",)},
+        cli=("-m",),
     )
 
     min_filter_score: float = Field(
         ...,
         title="Min Score",
         description="Minimum Score Filter that will be applied to the records",
-        extras={"cli": ("-s",)},
+        cli=("-s",),
         gt=0
         # or extras={'cli': ('-s', '--min-filter-score', )}
     )
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ class Config(ExampleConfigDefaults):
         title="Max Score",
         description="Maximum Score Filter that will be applied to the records",
         gt=0,
-        extras={"cli": ("-S",)}
+        cli=("-S",)
         # or extras={'cli': ('-S', '--min-filter-score', )}
     )
 
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_boolean_custom.py b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_boolean_custom.py
index 0443353..120ef8c 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_boolean_custom.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_boolean_custom.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ class Config(DefaultConfig):
 
     # Or customizing the CLI flag with a Tuple[str, str] of (short, long), or Tuple[str] of (long, )
     input_file3: str = Field(
-        ..., description="Path to input H5 file", extras={"cli": ("-f", "--hdf5")}
+        ..., description="Path to input H5 file", cli=("-f", "--hdf5")
     )
 
     # https://pydantic-docs.helpmanual.io/usage/models/#required-optional-fields
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Config(DefaultConfig):
     beta_filter: bool = Field(
         False,
         description="Enable beta filter mode",
-        extras={"cli": ("-b", "--beta-filter")},
+        cli=("-b", "--beta-filter"),
     )
 
     # Again, note Pydantic will treat these as indistinguishable
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class Config(DefaultConfig):
     epsilon: Optional[bool] = Field(
         False,
         description="Enable epsilon meta-analysis.",
-        extras={"cli": ("--epsilon", "--disable-epsilon")},
+        cli=("--epsilon", "--disable-epsilon"),
     )
 
     states: Set[State]
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom.py b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom.py
index 1aee667..b6ab7ff 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom.py
@@ -15,9 +15,9 @@ class Options(BaseModel):
     class Config(ExampleConfigDefaults, DefaultConfig):
         pass
 
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-i", "--input")})
-    max_records: int = Field(10, extras={"cli": ("-m", "--max-records")})
-    min_filter_score: float = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-f", "--filter-score")})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=("-i", "--input"))
+    max_records: int = Field(10, cli=("-m", "--max-records"))
+    min_filter_score: float = Field(..., cli=("-f", "--filter-score"))
     alpha: Union[int, str] = 1
     values: List[str] = ["a", "b", "c"]
 
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom_and_setup_log.py b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom_and_setup_log.py
index 8f45067..d22f29d 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom_and_setup_log.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_custom_and_setup_log.py
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ class Options(BaseModel):
     class Config(ExampleConfigDefaults):
         pass
 
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-i", "--input")})
-    max_records: int = Field(10, extras={"cli": ("-m", "--max-records")})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=("-i", "--input"))
+    max_records: int = Field(10, cli=("-m", "--max-records"))
     # this leverages Pydantic's fundamental understanding of Enums
     log_level: LogLevel = LogLevel.INFO
 
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_shell_autocomplete_support.py b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_shell_autocomplete_support.py
index 1270ee0..0ef55df 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_shell_autocomplete_support.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/examples/simple_with_shell_autocomplete_support.py
@@ -19,9 +19,9 @@ class Options(BaseModel):
     class Config(ExampleConfigDefaults, DefaultConfig):
         CLI_SHELL_COMPLETION_ENABLE = HAS_AUTOCOMPLETE_SUPPORT
 
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-i", "--input")})
-    min_filter_score: float = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-f", "--filter-score")})
-    max_records: int = Field(10, extras={"cli": ("-m", "--max-records")})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=("-i", "--input"))
+    min_filter_score: float = Field(..., cli=("-f", "--filter-score"))
+    max_records: int = Field(10, cli=("-m", "--max-records"))
 
 
 def example_runner(opts: Options) -> int:
diff --git a/pydantic_cli/examples/subparser.py b/pydantic_cli/examples/subparser.py
index 2e0a416..8c64395 100644
--- a/pydantic_cli/examples/subparser.py
+++ b/pydantic_cli/examples/subparser.py
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ class AlphaOptions(BaseModel):
     class Config(CustomConfig):
         pass
 
-    input_file: str = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-i", "--input")})
-    max_records: int = Field(10, extras={"cli": ("-m", "--max-records")})
+    input_file: str = Field(..., cli=("-i", "--input"))
+    max_records: int = Field(10, cli=("-m", "--max-records"))
     log_level: LogLevel = LogLevel.DEBUG
 
 
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ class BetaOptions(BaseModel):
     class Config(CustomConfig):
         pass
 
-    url: AnyUrl = Field(..., extras={"cli": ("-u", "--url")})
-    num_retries: int = Field(3, extras={"cli": ("-n", "--num-retries")})
+    url: AnyUrl = Field(..., cli=("-u", "--url"))
+    num_retries: int = Field(3, cli=("-n", "--num-retries"))
     log_level: LogLevel = LogLevel.INFO