short
short — verb
- shortpresent simple I / you / we / they
- shorts3rd person singular
- shorting-ing form
- shortedpast simple
1. If a wire, plug, or device shorts, or if you short it, an electrical fault lets
If a wire, plug, or device shorts, or if you short it, an electrical fault lets the current take the wrong path and the power usually cuts out.
Élise's hairdryer shorted the moment she plugged it into the bathroom socket.
intransitive: device + shorts (subject is the device)
A leaking pipe dripped onto the fuse box and shorted the kitchen lights.
transitive: shorted + the [circuit/lights]
Bilal warned the workers that wet hands could short the old metal switch.
The wires behind the washing machine shorted and tripped the whole house.
- short-circuit
the formal full form; 'short' is just the casual clipped version
- blow
informal, used for fuses and bulbs failing under sudden load
文法句型
short [device]
[wire/circuit] shorts
用法筆記
Informal substitute for 'short-circuit'. Subject is usually the device or wiring itself; when transitive, the object is typically a circuit, fuse, or appliance, not a person.
常見錯誤
2. to give a person less money, food, time, or attention than they have earned or a
to give a person less money, food, time, or attention than they have earned or asked for, so that they end up with too little.
The cashier shorted Yael by ten dollars and refused to check the till again.
short + person + by + amount
Amihan felt the new manager was shorting her on hours every week.
short + person + on + thing
Don't short the kids on dessert just because the adults arrived hungry.
Yan complained that the food truck shorted him a taco in his order.
- shortchange
near-identical, especially when the missing thing is money returned as change
- cheat
stronger; implies clear dishonesty, while 'short' can be careless rather than crooked
- overpay
give more than is owed
文法句型
short someone
short someone on something
用法筆記
Object must be a person (or group). What they were shorted of is introduced by 'on' or follows directly as a noun phrase. Common in service, payroll, and retail contexts.
常見錯誤
3. to bet on a fall in price by selling shares or currency you have only borrowed,
to bet on a fall in price by selling shares or currency you have only borrowed, so that you can buy them back cheaper later and pocket the difference.
Nellie shorted the airline's stock the week before the strike was announced.
short + [company stock]
Two hedge funds had quietly shorted the Turkish lira ahead of the election.
short + [currency]
Kemi warned her clients not to short tech stocks during a strong earnings season.
Mateo lost almost everything when he shorted the company a day before its merger news.
- short-sell
the full technical form, common in news and analyst writing
- bet against
everyday paraphrase that names the underlying wager rather than the mechanism
- go long
buy and hold, betting the price will rise
文法句型
short [stock/currency]
用法筆記
Subject is normally an investor or fund; object is the stock, currency, or company whose price the trader expects to fall. Distinguish from sense 2: this is a market transaction, not an unfair act against a person.
常見錯誤
short — noun
- shortsingular
- shortsplural
1. a small serving of strong alcohol such as whisky, gin, or vodka, served on its o
a small serving of strong alcohol such as whisky, gin, or vodka, served on its own without water, juice, or ice.
Owen ordered a short of whisky after his long shift at the hospital.
a short of + spirit name
The bartender lined up six shorts on the polished wooden counter.
plural countable noun
Nia prefers a short of gin to a tall cocktail with mixers.
After dinner, the guests moved to the lounge for coffee and a short.
- long drink
a tall glass with mixer added, the opposite of a neat short
用法筆記
Mainly British and informal; American English typically uses 'shot' instead. Often appears as 'a short of [spirit]'.
常見錯誤
2. a film that runs for only a few minutes, often shown at festivals or, in earlier
a film that runs for only a few minutes, often shown at festivals or, in earlier cinema, before the main feature began.
Christopher's animated short won the top prize at the Berlin festival last spring.
festival-context collocation
Pixar releases a new short before each of its feature films.
pre-feature cinema usage
Talia is editing a fifteen-minute short about street musicians in Lisbon.
The documentary shorts at this festival are stronger than the full-length films.
- short film
the full term; 'short' alone is the casual industry shorthand
- short subject
older American term, mainly historical
- feature
a full-length cinema film, typically over 80 minutes
用法筆記
Often modified by genre (animated short, documentary short, comedy short) and length (a five-minute short). Distinct from sense 1 (drink) and sense 4 (baseball position) by film-industry context.
常見錯誤
3. an unwanted connection inside a wiring system that lets electricity skip its pro
an unwanted connection inside a wiring system that lets electricity skip its proper path, often causing sparks, smoke, or a blown fuse.
Anjali traced the kitchen lights problem to a short in the old wall socket.
diagnose + a short
A short in the engine wiring set Ramón's motorbike on fire near the bridge.
causal: a short caused [event]
The electrician found a short behind the bathroom mirror after the lights kept flickering.
A small short in the charger made the phone too hot to hold.
- short circuit
the full technical term; same meaning, more formal
- wiring fault
broader; covers any wiring problem, not only short circuits
用法筆記
Casual everyday term for the formal 'short circuit'. Common in spoken contexts when discussing household wiring, appliances, or vehicles.
常見錯誤
4. in baseball, the area lying just inside the diamond between third base and secon
in baseball, the area lying just inside the diamond between third base and second; also, the fielder whose job is to cover that area.
Mizuki has played short for the Tigers since her first year in college.
play short (no article)
The coach moved Quan from second base to short after the injury.
move someone to short
A sharp ground ball rolled past Élise at short and into left field.
Few hitters can beat Shirin's quick throws from short to first base.
- shortstop
the formal full term for both the position and the player
用法筆記
Casual abbreviation of 'shortstop'; commonly used uncountably with 'play short', 'at short', or 'from short'. American sports-broadcast register.
常見錯誤
short — adjective
- shortpositive
- shortercomparative
- shortestsuperlative
1. having only a small length, distance from end to end, or height from the ground.
having only a small length, distance from end to end, or height from the ground.
Yasmin has very short hair that just covers her ears.
physical-length sense: short + body part
The walk from the train station to my flat is quite short.
short + distance noun (walk, drive, trip)
Cyrus is too short to reach the top shelf without a stool.
Tamsin wore a short black dress to her cousin's wedding party.
There was a short wooden fence around the vegetable garden.
用法筆記
Covers both length (a short rope, short hair) and height (a short man, a short tree). Use 'low' for things like buildings or shelves measured from the ground rather than living things.
常見錯誤
2. in the form of a quicker, abbreviated version of someone's full name or a longer
in the form of a quicker, abbreviated version of someone's full name or a longer word.
My name is Benjamin, but everyone calls me Ben for short.
fixed phrase: for short
Most people in our office call her Liz, but it is short for Elizabeth.
be short for + full form
In British English, the word 'fridge' is short for refrigerator.
Felipe goes by Pip, which is short for his middle name Philip.
- abbreviated
more formal; usually for written rather than spoken forms
文法句型
be short for + name/word
用法筆記
Almost always used in the patterns 'X is short for Y' or 'call someone X for short'. Not used attributively before a noun in this sense.
常見錯誤
3. going on for only a brief period, or feeling as though it ended sooner than expe
going on for only a brief period, or feeling as though it ended sooner than expected.
The design team had a short break for coffee and then went back to work.
short + time-period noun (break, pause, rest)
Hana took a short nap before her evening shift at the hospital.
The summer holiday felt short this year because of all the rain.
After a short silence, Reuben finally answered the question.
The flight to Osaka is quite short — only about three hours.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 4 (short writing). Sense 3 is about how long something lasts in time; sense 4 is about how many words something contains. A short visit (sense 3) can still involve a long conversation.
常見錯誤
4. (of a piece of writing or speech) using only a few words, so that it does not ta
(of a piece of writing or speech) using only a few words, so that it does not take long to read or hear.
Élise wrote a short note to thank her landlord for fixing the heater.
short + writing noun (note, letter, email)
The teacher asked the class to write a short story about their summer.
Daniel gave a short speech at his sister's wedding and sat down.
I sent the team a short email explaining the new meeting time.
- long
containing many words
用法筆記
Subject is usually a piece of writing (note, letter, email, story, article) or a piece of speech (talk, speech, message). Often signals that something is deliberately kept compact, not lacking content.
5. lacking the amount of an everyday resource — money, time, staff, or points — req
lacking the amount of an everyday resource — money, time, staff, or points — required to finish a task or meet a target, often by a measurable gap.
I'm a bit short of cash this week — can I pay you back on Friday?
be short of + money/resource
The PTA committee is short of volunteers for the school sports day on Saturday.
predicative: be short of + people
Sivan was two points short of passing her final maths exam.
The charity is still short by about three thousand dollars.
Sorry I can't chat — I'm really short of time this morning.
- plenty of
having more than enough
文法句型
be short of + noun
be short by + amount
用法筆記
Predicative only (after 'be', 'feel', 'run'); often pairs with a measurable gap — 'two points short', 'short by ten dollars'. Distinguish from sense 8 (WITHOUT NECESSITIES), which is about a person or family lacking basic things they rely on to live (food, water, sleep), not about falling short of a target or budget. Also distinguish from sense 7, where the resource itself is the subject ('volunteers are short' vs 'we are short of volunteers').
常見錯誤
6. having trouble breathing properly, usually after physical effort or because you
having trouble breathing properly, usually after physical effort or because you are unwell.
After running up six flights of stairs, Brandon was short of breath.
fixed phrase: short of breath
Defne felt short of breath and had to sit down on the bench.
If you are often short of breath, you should see a doctor soon.
Lukas grew short of breath halfway up the mountain trail.
- breathless
single-word equivalent; often after sudden effort or excitement
- winded
informal; often after a punch or hard physical effort
文法句型
be short of breath
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in the fixed phrase 'short of breath'. The noun form 'shortness of breath' is the standard medical term doctors use.
常見錯誤
7. describes a thing — like fresh water, hospital beds, or skilled workers — that i
describes a thing — like fresh water, hospital beds, or skilled workers — that is hard to obtain because there is not as much of it around as people want or need.
Clean drinking water was short in the village after the storm damaged the main pipe.
predicative use: [resource] is short
Train tickets for the holiday weekend are always short, so Hugo books his seat months ahead.
predicative use after 'are'
Fresh vegetables were in short supply at the market because heavy rain had ruined the local crops.
Trained nurses were short in many rural towns near Devika's family farm.
With so many tourists visiting, hotel rooms in the old city were short for the whole summer.
- scarce
more formal; emphasises that the thing is hard to find anywhere
- limited
neutral; suggests a fixed small amount rather than shortage
- insufficient
formal; stresses that the amount is below what is needed
文法句型
something is short
something is in short supply
用法筆記
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'in short supply' rather than as a bare predicate. Subject is typically a resource, commodity, or skilled worker — not an emotion or quality. Distinguish from sense 5 (LACKING / not having enough), where the subject is a person who lacks something; here the subject IS the scarce thing itself.
常見錯誤
8. describing a person, household, or community that does not have enough of a basi
describing a person, household, or community that does not have enough of a basic thing they rely on for daily life — food, water, sleep, warm clothes, or other survival needs — so that everyday living becomes harder.
After paying the rent, the Okafor family was short of cash and could only afford rice for dinner.
be short of + concrete need
Esteban looked pale at the meeting because he had been short of sleep for three nights in a row.
be short of sleep (idiomatic)
Many farmers in the dry region are short of water and must walk long distances to fill their buckets.
The shelter is short of warm coats this winter, so volunteers are asking neighbours for donations.
Jin admitted he was short of ideas for the science project and asked his teacher for help.
- well-stocked
having plenty of supplies
- well-supplied
having enough of what is needed
文法句型
be short of + noun
用法筆記
Object of 'of' must be a basic-need noun (food, water, sleep, shelter, warm clothes) — something the subject's daily wellbeing depends on. Distinguish from sense 5 (NOT ENOUGH), which is about falling short of a target or budget by a measurable amount ('two points short', 'short by $50'); sense 8 carries a hardship sense that sense 5 does not. Also distinguish from sense 7 (IN SHORT SUPPLY), where the scarce thing itself is the subject — 'water is short' (sense 7) versus 'the village is short of water' (this sense).
常見錯誤
9. if you are short with someone, you reply using only a few clipped words whose to
if you are short with someone, you reply using only a few clipped words whose tone sounds rude, impatient, or mildly angry — often because you are tired, busy, or annoyed.
Aylin was short with the customer who kept asking the same question, and her manager later pulled her aside.
be short with + person
I'm sorry I was so short on the phone earlier — I was rushing to catch the last train home.
apologetic register
Stefan gave a short answer when his sister asked about the broken window, then walked out of the kitchen.
The receptionist was unusually short with visitors that morning because the printer had broken twice already.
Don't be short with your grandmother just because she repeats her stories.
文法句型
be short with someone
用法筆記
Used predicatively, almost always as 'be short with + person'. Carries a mild negative judgement — the speaker thinks the curtness was unjustified or hurtful. Often softened by an explanation ('sorry I was short, I was tired'). Do not confuse with sense 4 (a short reply = brief in length), which is neutral; this sense adds the rude or impatient tone.
常見錯誤
short — adverb
1. earlier than a planned time, or at a point that does not reach the place, level,
earlier than a planned time, or at a point that does not reach the place, level, or amount you wanted.
Yuki's arrow landed two metres short of the target.
short of + noun for not reaching a goal
Paloma stopped short when she saw the deer crossing the road.
stop short for halting suddenly before going further
The marathon route was cut short because of the storm.
Bilal's savings fell short by about two hundred dollars.
The bus pulled up just short of the station entrance.
- prematurely
more formal; refers only to time, not distance or amount
- early
neutral and broad; 'short' specifically suggests not reaching a target
文法句型
stop short
fall short of + noun
cut short + noun
用法筆記
Almost always used in fixed combinations: 'stop short', 'fall short (of)', 'cut short', 'pull up short', or with 'of + noun' to name the target not reached. Rarely stands alone after a verb.
常見錯誤
short — prefix
1. joins with an -ed adjective made from a noun to say that the named part of someo
joins with an -ed adjective made from a noun to say that the named part of someone or something is small in length.
Erik adopted a short-haired terrier from the shelter near his office.
short- + noun-ed: short-haired
Mayumi wore a short-sleeved blouse to the picnic in the park.
short- + noun-ed: short-sleeved
The farmer raised short-legged sheep that handled the rocky hillside well.
Antonia bought a short-stemmed rose for her grandmother's birthday.
Roya prefers short-necked vases because they suit the tulips on her desk.
- long-
opposite prefix: long-haired, long-sleeved, long-legged
文法句型
short- + [noun]-ed (e.g. short-haired, short-sleeved)
用法筆記
Always written with a hyphen and attached to an -ed adjective formed from a concrete noun (hair, sleeve, leg, stem). Cannot stand alone or combine with verbs.