short change – less money than the correct change one should receive
a short cut – a quicker or easier way of going somewhere or doing something
a short drink – a strong alcoholic drink served in small quantities, e.g. gin
short measure; short weight – less than the weight of goods (usually food) paid for
short pastry – pastry which is made with a lot of butter of fat
to be in short supply – to be scarce, few, not enough
to be on short time – to work fewer hours or days than usual because the employer has not enough work for the workmen
to be short (of something) – not to have enough (of something); e.g. of time, money, food, etc.
to be short (with someone) – to be short-tempered, curt or abrupt
to be taken short (informal) – to have to make a hurried visit to a lavatory
to cut something short – to bring something to an end before the proper time; e.g. We had to cut short our discussion because the boss had to go to a meeting somewhere else.
to fall short (of something) – to be inadequate, not enough, disappointing (of hopes, expectations); e.g. His profits for the first year of business have fallen short of his expectations.
to go short (of something) – to do without (something), to deprive oneself (of something); e.g. Can you lend me six 12p stamps – or does that mean that you’ll have to go short yourself?
to have a short temper – to become angry easily, frequently and quickly
to make short work of something – to deal with something quickly; e.g. Let’s make short work of the food and drink
to pull (something / someone) up short – 1. to stop (a vehicle) suddenly; 2. to interrupt, check or correct (a person) unexpectedly
to run short (of something) – to come to the end of one’s supply (of something); e.g. I’ve run short of sugar. Could you please lend me some?
to stop short – to stop suddenly
little / nothing short of – little / nothing less than; e.g. The way he runs his business is little short of criminal
the long and the short of it – all that there is to be said about a matter
for short – briefly, in a few words
short of – except, apart from; e.g. They say he’s capable of anything short of murder!
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