# short of a length

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/short-of-a-length
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

of a ball that pitches short of a good length; a ball that bounces closer to the bowler than the area of the pitch regarded as the best for dismissing or restricting the scoring of the batsman.

## Examples

- The bowler delivered a ball that was short of a length.
- The batsman easily hit the ball for four because the bowler kept bowling short of a length.
- By consistently pitching the ball short of a length, the bowler allowed the batsman to settle into a comfortable rhythm and score runs with ease.

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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.