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supply

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in short supply

Fig. scarce. Fresh vegetables are in short supply in the winter. Yellow cars are in short supply because everyone likes them and buys them. At this time of the year, fresh vegetables go into short supply.

See also: short, supply

supply and demand

the availability of things or people as compared to the need to utilize the things or people; the availability of goods compared to the number of willing customers for the goods. Sometimes you can find what you want by shopping around and other times almost no store carries the items you are looking for. It depends entirely on supply and demand. (Alludes to a principle of market economics.) Sometimes customers ask for things we do not carry in stock and other times we have things in abundance that no one wants to buy. Whether or not we can make money off of a product depends entirely on supply and demand.

See also: and, demand, supply

supply someone or something with something

to provide something to someone or something. We will supply you with all the pencils you need. We supplied the committee with ice water.

See also: supply

supply something (to someone or something) (from something)

to provide someone or something with something from some source. I supplied ice cream to the new restaurant from a very expensive source. We supplied nuts from a pushcart. Frank supplied nothing at all to them.

in short supply

not readily available Money is in short supply until I get paid.

See also: short, supply

in short supply

Less than is needed, lacking. For example, Skilled operators were in short supply, or The hotels are all full, and beds are in short supply. [First half of 1900s]

See also: short, supply