shorthanded

Missing necessary personnel

Shorthanded means lacking the usual or necessary number of workers or players: We're shorthanded today—two people called in sick.

In hockey, a team is shorthanded when a player is in the penalty box, giving the opponent a numerical advantage.

A shorthanded goal is scored despite having fewer players on the ice.

sensename

understaffed

Insufficient employees for workload

undermannedInsufficient personnel available
bare-bonesReduced to essentials
insufficientBelow required quantity

depleted · vacancies · shortage · manpower · hiring · recruiting · attrition · unfilled · overextended

resourceful

makeshift

Temporary, improvised substitute

improvisedCreated without prior planning
jury-riggedTemporarily fixed with scraps
MacGyveredImprovised resourcefully from scraps

cobbled · kludged · ad-hoc · creative · adaptive · scrappy · ingenious · workaround · patched · rigged

hockey

powerplay

Asserting dominance strategically

boxLidded storage container
sin-binSlang for penalty area
penaltyPunishment for wrongdoing

minor · major · defender · goalie · breakaway · backchecking · forechecking · clearing · icing · faceoff

nautical

crew

Working team aboard

watchPortable timekeeping device
handsGripping limbs' extremities
sailingWind-propelled water travel

undermanned · deck · galley · helm · navigator · skipper · trimmer · bowman · rigging · solo

Categories

numerical disadvantageoutnumbered, undermanned, understaffed, outgunned, skeleton crew
hockey termsman advantage, penalty kill, special teams, offensive zone, point shot
unreadyunprepared, ill-prepared, ill-equipped, unready, not ready

Opposites

staffing adequacy

shorthandedfully staffed

overstaffed · staffed up · overmanned · at capacity · reinforced

Phrases

shorthand notesAbbreviated written records

Family

shorthand, shorthands

Familiarity: Top 100,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G