fall short
To be less satisfactory than expected; to be inadequate or insufficient.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“My test results fall short of my goals.”
“The new product launch fell short of sales targets, so the company had to rethink its strategy.”
“Despite his extensive preparation and years of experience, his final performance fell short of the high standards set by his predecessors.”
- 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 falling knife
To buy a financial instrument whose price is falling rapidly.
- 04
caught short
unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed
- 05
down to the short strokes
In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.
- 06
draw the short straw
To be selected to do an undesirable task (by drawing the shortest straw or otherwise).
- 07
fall apart
To be emotionally in crisis.
- 08
fall around
To fall over continually, especially through drunkenness, clumsiness, or incompetence.
Last updated August 10, 2026