short
short — 動詞
- 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
使短路；跳電
電線或電器因接觸不良而斷電
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.
Élise 一把吹風機插進浴室插座，它就立刻短路了。
intransitive: device + shorts (subject is the device)
A leaking pipe dripped onto the fuse box and shorted the kitchen lights.
漏水的水管滴到保險絲箱，把廚房的燈跳掉了。
transitive: shorted + the [circuit/lights]
Bilal warned the workers that wet hands could short the old metal switch.
Bilal 提醒工人，手濕碰那個老舊的金屬開關會造成短路。
The wires behind the washing machine shorted and tripped the whole house.
洗衣機後面的電線短路，讓整間房子都跳電了。
- 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
少給；剋扣
給某人比應得或所需更少的東西
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.
收銀員少找了 Yael 十美元，還拒絕重新對帳。
short + person + by + amount
Amihan felt the new manager was shorting her on hours every week.
Amihan 覺得新主管每週都剋扣她的工時。
short + person + on + thing
Don't short the kids on dessert just because the adults arrived hungry.
不要因為大人餓著肚子來，就少給孩子們的甜點。
Yan complained that the food truck shorted him a taco in his order.
Yan 抱怨那間餐車的訂單少給了他一份塔可。
- 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,
放空；做空
借股票或貨幣賣出，賭它會跌價
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.
Nellie 在罷工消息公布前一週放空了那家航空公司的股票。
short + [company stock]
Two hedge funds had quietly shorted the Turkish lira ahead of the election.
兩家避險基金在土耳其大選前已悄悄放空里拉。
short + [currency]
Kemi warned her clients not to short tech stocks during a strong earnings season.
Kemi 提醒客戶，財報旺季別輕易做空科技股。
Mateo lost almost everything when he shorted the company a day before its merger news.
Mateo 在公司宣布合併消息的前一天做空，幾乎賠光所有積蓄。
- 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 — 名詞
- shortsingular
- shortsplural
1. a small serving of strong alcohol such as whisky, gin, or vodka, served on its o
烈酒小杯
一小杯純飲的烈酒，不加水或冰
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.
Owen 在醫院上完長班後，點了一小杯威士忌。
a short of + spirit name
The bartender lined up six shorts on the polished wooden counter.
酒保在打亮的木質吧台上，一字排開六杯烈酒。
plural countable noun
Nia prefers a short of gin to a tall cocktail with mixers.
比起加調酒的高杯飲料，Nia 比較喜歡一小杯純琴酒。
After dinner, the guests moved to the lounge for coffee and a short.
晚餐後，客人們移到客廳喝咖啡，再來一杯純烈酒。
- 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
短片
片長很短的電影，常見於影展
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.
Christopher 的動畫短片去年春天在柏林影展拿下首獎。
festival-context collocation
Pixar releases a new short before each of its feature films.
皮克斯每部劇情長片上映前，都會推出一支新的短片。
pre-feature cinema usage
Talia is editing a fifteen-minute short about street musicians in Lisbon.
Talia 正在剪輯一支十五分鐘的短片，主題是里斯本的街頭音樂家。
The documentary shorts at this festival are stronger than the full-length films.
這次影展的紀錄短片比劇情長片更精采。
- 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
短路
電路接觸不良造成的故障
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.
Anjali 把廚房燈的問題，追查到舊的牆壁插座發生短路。
diagnose + a short
A short in the engine wiring set Ramón's motorbike on fire near the bridge.
Ramón 的機車在橋邊起火，是引擎電線發生短路造成的。
causal: a short caused [event]
The electrician found a short behind the bathroom mirror after the lights kept flickering.
燈一直閃個不停，水電師傅最後在浴室鏡子後面找到短路點。
A small short in the charger made the phone too hot to hold.
充電器有個小短路，讓手機燙到沒辦法拿。
- 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
游擊手位置
棒球二壘與三壘間的守備位置或球員
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.
Mizuki 從大學一年級就替老虎隊鎮守游擊位置。
play short (no article)
The coach moved Quan from second base to short after the injury.
受傷之後，教練把 Quan 從二壘調去守游擊。
move someone to short
A sharp ground ball rolled past Élise at short and into left field.
一顆強勁的滾地球從游擊位置的 Élise 身邊溜過，滾向左外野。
Few hitters can beat Shirin's quick throws from short to first base.
Shirin 從游擊位置傳到一壘的速度極快，幾乎沒有打者跑得贏。
- 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 — 形容詞
- shortpositive
- shortercomparative
- shortestsuperlative
1. having only a small length, distance from end to end, or height from the ground.
短的；矮的
長度、距離或身高小的
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.
Yasmin 留著很短的頭髮，剛好蓋住耳朵。
physical-length sense: short + body part
The walk from the train station to my flat is quite short.
從火車站走到我公寓的路程很短。
short + distance noun (walk, drive, trip)
Cyrus is too short to reach the top shelf without a stool.
Cyrus 太矮了，不踩凳子搆不到最上層的架子。
Tamsin wore a short black dress to her cousin's wedding party.
Tamsin 穿了一件黑色短洋裝去表姊的婚禮派對。
There was a short wooden fence around the vegetable garden.
菜園周圍有一道矮矮的木頭籬笆。
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
簡稱；縮寫
某名字或字的較短形式
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.
我叫 Benjamin，但大家都叫我 Ben，這是簡稱。
fixed phrase: for short
Most people in our office call her Liz, but it is short for Elizabeth.
辦公室大多數人都叫她 Liz，那是 Elizabeth 的簡稱。
be short for + full form
In British English, the word 'fridge' is short for refrigerator.
在英式英語中，「fridge」是 refrigerator 的縮寫。
Felipe goes by Pip, which is short for his middle name Philip.
Felipe 大家都叫他 Pip，這是他中間名 Philip 的簡稱。
- 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
短暫的
持續時間很短的
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.
設計團隊短暫休息了一下喝咖啡，然後繼續工作。
short + time-period noun (break, pause, rest)
Hana took a short nap before her evening shift at the hospital.
Hana 在醫院夜班前小睡了一下。
The summer holiday felt short this year because of all the rain.
因為一直下雨，今年的暑假感覺特別短。
After a short silence, Reuben finally answered the question.
短暫沉默後，Reuben 終於回答了問題。
The flight to Osaka is quite short — only about three hours.
飛去大阪的航程很短，大約只要三小時。
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
簡短的
字數少、讀起來不久的
(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.
Élise 寫了一張簡短的紙條，謝謝房東幫忙修暖氣。
short + writing noun (note, letter, email)
The teacher asked the class to write a short story about their summer.
老師請全班寫一篇關於暑假的短篇故事。
Daniel gave a short speech at his sister's wedding and sat down.
Daniel 在妹妹的婚禮上發表了簡短致詞便坐下。
I sent the team a short email explaining the new meeting time.
我發了一封簡短的電子郵件給團隊，說明新的開會時間。
- 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
不夠；不足
達不到所需金額或數量
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?
我這禮拜現金有點不夠，可以禮拜五再還你嗎？
be short of + money/resource
The PTA committee is short of volunteers for the school sports day on Saturday.
家長會週六學校運動會的志工人數不夠。
predicative: be short of + people
Sivan was two points short of passing her final maths exam.
Sivan 期末數學考試差兩分才及格。
The charity is still short by about three thousand dollars.
這個慈善機構還缺大約三千美元才達標。
Sorry I can't chat — I'm really short of time this morning.
抱歉沒辦法聊，我今天早上時間真的不夠。
- 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
上氣不接下氣
因運動或不舒服而呼吸困難
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.
爬完六層樓梯後，Brandon 上氣不接下氣。
fixed phrase: short of breath
Defne felt short of breath and had to sit down on the bench.
Defne 喘不過氣來，不得不坐到長椅上。
If you are often short of breath, you should see a doctor soon.
如果你經常喘不過氣，應該盡快去看醫生。
Lukas grew short of breath halfway up the mountain trail.
走到山徑半路時，Lukas 開始喘不過氣。
- 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
短缺的
供應不足、難以取得的
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.
暴風雨破壞了主水管後，村裡的飲用水十分短缺。
predicative use: [resource] is short
Train tickets for the holiday weekend are always short, so Hugo books his seat months ahead.
連假的火車票總是很短缺，所以 Hugo 都會提早幾個月訂位。
predicative use after 'are'
Fresh vegetables were in short supply at the market because heavy rain had ruined the local crops.
因為大雨毀掉了當地的作物，市場上的新鮮蔬菜供應短缺。
Trained nurses were short in many rural towns near Devika's family farm.
在 Devika 家鄉農場附近的許多鄉下小鎮，受過訓練的護理師都很短缺。
With so many tourists visiting, hotel rooms in the old city were short for the whole summer.
因為觀光客眾多，整個夏天舊城區的旅館房間都很短缺。
- 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
缺乏；缺少
人或家庭缺乏維生必需品
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.
付完房租後，Okafor 一家手頭缺現金，晚餐只能吃白飯。
be short of + concrete need
Esteban looked pale at the meeting because he had been short of sleep for three nights in a row.
Esteban 在會議上看起來臉色蒼白，因為他已經連續三晚睡眠不足。
be short of sleep (idiomatic)
Many farmers in the dry region are short of water and must walk long distances to fill their buckets.
乾旱地區的許多農民缺水，必須走很遠的路去裝水。
The shelter is short of warm coats this winter, so volunteers are asking neighbours for donations.
今年冬天收容所缺保暖外套，志工正在向鄰居募集捐贈。
Jin admitted he was short of ideas for the science project and asked his teacher for help.
Jin 坦承他做科學作業時想不出點子，於是向老師求助。
- 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
口氣生硬的
言語簡短而顯得不耐或無禮
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.
Aylin 對那位一直問同樣問題的顧客口氣很生硬，後來主管把她叫到一旁。
be short with + person
I'm sorry I was so short on the phone earlier — I was rushing to catch the last train home.
對不起剛才講電話時口氣那麼急，我當時正趕著搭最後一班火車回家。
apologetic register
Stefan gave a short answer when his sister asked about the broken window, then walked out of the kitchen.
妹妹問起破掉的窗戶時，Stefan 只冷淡地回了一句話，就走出廚房。
The receptionist was unusually short with visitors that morning because the printer had broken twice already.
那天早上印表機已經壞了兩次，櫃檯人員對訪客的態度因此格外生硬。
Don't be short with your grandmother just because she repeats her stories.
別只因為奶奶反覆說同樣的故事，就對她口氣不耐。
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 — 副詞
1. earlier than a planned time, or at a point that does not reach the place, level,
未及；提前
在預定的時間、地點或數量之前停下
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.
Yuki 射出的箭落在距離靶心兩公尺前的位置。
short of + noun for not reaching a goal
Paloma stopped short when she saw the deer crossing the road.
Paloma 看到鹿橫越馬路時，立刻停了下來。
stop short for halting suddenly before going further
The marathon route was cut short because of the storm.
馬拉松路線因為暴風雨而提前縮短。
Bilal's savings fell short by about two hundred dollars.
Bilal 的存款還差大約兩百美元才夠。
The bus pulled up just short of the station entrance.
公車就在還沒到車站入口前停了下來。
- 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 — 字首
1. joins with an -ed adjective made from a noun to say that the named part of someo
短～的
描述某部位長度較短的複合形容詞
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.
Erik 從他辦公室附近的收容所領養了一隻短毛梗犬。
short- + noun-ed: short-haired
Mayumi wore a short-sleeved blouse to the picnic in the park.
Mayumi 穿著一件短袖上衣去公園野餐。
short- + noun-ed: short-sleeved
The farmer raised short-legged sheep that handled the rocky hillside well.
那位農夫養了一群短腿羊，牠們在崎嶇的山坡上也能走得很穩。
Antonia bought a short-stemmed rose for her grandmother's birthday.
Antonia 為她奶奶的生日買了一朵短梗玫瑰。
Roya prefers short-necked vases because they suit the tulips on her desk.
Roya 偏愛短頸花瓶，因為這種花瓶很適合擺放她書桌上的鬱金香。
- 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.