short supply
Not enough around
Short supply describes something scarce or insufficient relative to demand.
When goods are in short supply, there aren't enough to go around: Patience was in short supply after the third delay.
The phrase emphasizes inadequacy rather than complete absence—some exists, just not enough.
- resource depletionExhausting available materials gradually
- running lowNearing exhaustion of supply
- hungerNeed for nourishment
- scarcityInsufficiency of something needed
- droughtProlonged water scarcity
poverty · urgency · rationing · undersupply · inflation · procurement · food insecurity · housing crisis · out of stock · hard to find · overfishing · scant · demand · sellers market · healthcare access · energy crisis · stress · inequality
- availabilityavailable, unavailable, sold out, in stock, out of stock
- scarcityscarcity, scarce, scant, scanty, lack