Idiom idiom
short of sth
Meaning
not having enough of something that you need. You use this when you are missing a specific amount or a specific thing.
Examples
“We are short of milk for the coffee.”
“The bakery is short of flour today, so we cannot bake any more bread for the customers.”
“The expedition team found themselves dangerously short of supplies as the winter storm intensified, forcing them to ration their remaining food.”
Last updated April 22, 2026