short of
Not having enough
Short of indicates insufficiency or falling below a threshold: We're a few dollars short of the total, Nothing short of a miracle will save them.
It can mean except for or without resorting to: Short of calling the police, there's nothing we can do.
The phrase implies coming close but not quite reaching—whether a quantity, standard, or extreme action.
- close toNearly reaching
- almostShort of completely
- excludingLeaving something out
- withoutLacking or absent
- barringExcluding from consideration
near · save for · omitting · other than · aside from · deficit · inadequacy · devoid · apart from · leaving out · bereft · out of reach · lack · not quite · approaching · excepting · dearth · minus
proximity/reaching
short ofbeyond
Farther than something
past · exceeding · surpassing · over · in excess of
short, shorten, shorts, shortly, shortcut, shortness, shortened, shortening, shorted