ENGLISH
REFERENCE

fall short

idiom
Meaning

To be less satisfactory than expected; to be inadequate or insufficient.


Examples
SIMPLE

My test results fall short of my goals.

CONTEXTUAL

The new product launch fell short of sales targets, so the company had to rethink its strategy.

COMPLEX

Despite his extensive preparation and years of experience, his final performance fell short of the high standards set by his predecessors.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    a day late and a dollar short

    Too late and too feeble to achieve the desired effect.

  2. 02

    a short drop and a sudden stop

    A fall to one's death by hanging.

  3. 03

    caught short

    unprepared or without enough of something when it is needed

  4. 04

    down to the short strokes

    In the final steps or decisive phase of an undertaking, especially one which has been lengthy or laborious.

  5. 05

    draw the short straw

    To be selected to do an undesirable task (by drawing the shortest straw or otherwise).

  6. 06

    fall apart

    To be emotionally in crisis.

  7. 07

    fall around

    To fall over continually, especially through drunkenness, clumsiness, or incompetence.

  8. 08

    fall asleep

    To be affected by paresthesia; to go numb.

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