caught short
unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“I was caught short without any cash at the store.”
“The sudden rainstorm caught us short, as we had left our umbrellas in the car.”
“The company was caught short by the unexpected market crash, leaving them unable to meet their financial obligations to investors.”
The English expression is compared to the French phrase *prendre de court*, which functions as a linguistic parallel for the condition of being unprepared or disadvantaged by a sudden lack of time or resources.
- 01
a day late and a dollar short
Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.
- 02
a short drop and a sudden stop
A fall to one's death by hanging.
- 03
catch a body
to kill, to murder
- 04
catch a break
To experience the minimal amount of good luck or a favorable outcome.
- 05
catch a case
To be infected with a disease; used with of.
- 06
catch a cold
To contract a cold.
- 07
catch a date
Of a prostitute, to secure a client who is willing to pay for services.
- 08
catch a fade
To get knocked out (struck and rendered unconscious).
Last updated August 10, 2026