a short cut |
a quicker or easier way of going somewhere or doing something |
There are no short cuts to become a good manager, just a lot of hard work and experience. |
at short notice |
with little warning, shortly before something has to be done |
You can’t expect me to do the work at such short notice. I need more time. |
be short with someone |
to be abrupt, unfriendly |
Have I done something wrong? The boss was very short with me. |
be / run short of something |
not to have enough of something, e.g. time, money, food |
Because we’re running rather short of time, so we will discuss the last two points next time. |
be taken short |
to have to go a toilet quickly |
It must be very embarrassing to be taken short in the middle of a lecture. |
cut something short |
to bring something to an end before the expected time |
We got an emergency call, so we had to cut the meeting short. |
fall short of one’s hopes/expectations |
to be inadequate, disappointing, not as much/as good as one had hoped or expected |
The interview went very well, but the salary they offered me fell short of my expectations. |
for short |
as an abbreviation |
His name’s Conrad Jackson, but everybody calls him 'Kojak' for short. |
have a short temper |
to become angry easily, frequently or quickly |
His father had a short temper, so Tom was seldom naughty as a child. |
in short |
briefly, in a few words, in summary |
The weather was good and the hotel was first-rate. In short, the holiday was most enjoyable. |
in short supply |
scarce, not enough available |
Good workers seem to be in short supply in this department. Almost everyone’s taking a coffee break again. |
little/nothing short of |
little/nothing less than |
What you are suggesting we can do is little short of blackmail. |
make short work of something |
to deal with something quickly |
"Are there many letters to answer?" "Only three, so we’ll make short work of them. |
short and to the point |
(a speech, order, letter etc.) short, direct and clear, possibly abrupt |
Don’t make the speech too long. Keep it short and to the point. |
short of something / doing something |
except, apart from |
They say he’s capable of anything short of murder. |