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Phrase Meanings » short of
What does "short of" mean?
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Having an inadequate supply of, as in We're short of cash right now. [Late 1600s] Also see fall short of.
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Less than, inferior to, as in Nothing short of her best effort was needed to make the team. [Mid-1500s]
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Other than, without resorting to, as in Short of yelling, I had no other way of getting his attention.
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See stop short, def. 3.
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