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short of

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short of something

not having enough of something. I wanted to bake a cake, but I was short of eggs. Usually at the end of the month, I'm short of money.

See also: of, short

short of something

1. not having enough of something Men, women, and children were forced from their homes and were desperately short of food and water. Related vocabulary: shy of something

2. not including something There has to be some sort of punishment, short of execution.

See also: of, short

short of

1. Having an inadequate supply of, as in We're short of cash right now. [Late 1600s] Also see fall short of.

2. Less than, inferior to, as in Nothing short of her best effort was needed to make the team. [Mid-1500s]

3. Other than, without resorting to, as in Short of yelling, I had no other way of getting his attention.

4. See stop short, def. 3.

See also: of, short

short of

1. Having an inadequate supply of: We're short of cash.

2. Less than: Nothing short of her best effort was required to make the team.

3. Other than; without resorting to: Short of yelling at him, I had no other way to catch his attention.

4. Not quite willing to undertake or do; just this side of: She stopped short of throwing out the old photo.

See also: of, short