# caught short

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/caught-short
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.