Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having fewer workers or assistants than are needed or usual: Describes a situation where an organization, team, or group is operating with an insufficient number of people to perform its tasks effectively.

Usage

The adjective "short-handed" is used to describe a state of being understaffed. It is typically used before a noun (attributively) or after a linking verb (predicatively). - Attributive use: Describes a noun directly. - The short-handed team struggled to meet the deadline. - Predicative use: Follows verbs like "be," "feel," or "become." - The restaurant was short-handed during the lunch rush.

Examples

• Adjective:
  • The department is short-handed this week due to the flu.
  • Working short-handed puts extra pressure on the remaining staff.
  • They had to manage a busy shift while short-handed.

Advanced Usage

• "to be caught short-handed": To be found in a situation without enough staff, often unexpectedly.
  • The sudden resignation left the company caught short-handed.
• "to run short-handed": To operate with insufficient staff over a period.
  • The store has been running short-handed for months.

Variants and Related Words

• Short-staffed (adj): A near-synonym meaning having too few staff members.
  • The hospital is critically short-staffed.
• Understaffed (adj): Functionally identical to "short-handed," meaning having a staff that is inadequate in number.
  • An understaffed police force.

Synonyms

• Understaffed: Lacking the necessary number of employees.
• Under-manned: Having fewer people than required (often used for crews or teams).
• Shorthanded (one word): An alternative spelling of the same adjective.

Antonyms

• Fully staffed: Having all necessary positions filled.
• Overstaffed: Having more workers than are needed.

Related Phrases

• Short on hands: An informal phrase with a similar meaning to "short-handed."
  • We're a bit short on hands today, so please be patient.

Adjective

1. inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
   • they're rather short-handed at the moment
   • overcrowded and understaffed hospitals