# shortstop

/ˈʃɔɹtˌstɑp/ (US) · /ʃˈɔːtstɒp/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shortstop
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. baseball position

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

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

For teachers: 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.

### 2. a nimble defender

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

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

For teachers: 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.

### 3. short of money

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang

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

For teachers: 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.

### 4. to stop something early

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- The shortstop caught the ball and threw it to first base.
- Because the batter was a right-handed power hitter, the shortstop moved slightly closer to third base.
- The team's defensive strategy relies heavily on the shortstop's ability to cover the middle of the infield and execute double plays with the second baseman.

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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.