shortstop

n. the baseball player who stands in the area between second and third base.

n. the defensive player positioned between the second baseman and the third baseman, responsible for covering a large area of the infield.

“The shortstop caught the ball quickly and threw it to first base for the out.”

“The team's star shortstop is known for his incredible range and his ability to turn double plays under extreme pressure.”

American English

n. someone who is very good at stopping problems or protecting something.

n. a person who acts as a nimble or versatile defender in a non-sporting context, often intercepting errors or issues.

“In our office, Sarah is the shortstop who catches every mistake before the boss sees it.”

“The CEO described the new legal counsel as a corporate shortstop, capable of fielding complex regulatory challenges before they became public scandals.”

Informal

n. a person who does not have enough money to pay for something or to keep betting.

n. a gambler or participant who lacks sufficient funds to continue or to meet their obligations.

“He had to leave the poker game early because he was a shortstop and couldn't cover the next bet.”

“The high-stakes room has no patience for a shortstop who tries to bluff without the capital to back it up.”

Slang

v. to stop something before it is finished or before it gets to its destination.

v. to cause an action, process, or object to stop abruptly or prematurely.

“The manager had to shortstop the project because the budget was suddenly cut.”

“Security forces managed to shortstop the delivery of the illegal goods just miles from the border.”

Formal