short-handed
/'ʃɔ:thændid/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- inadequate in number of workers or assistants etc.
- they're rather short-handed at the moment
- overcrowded and understaffed hospitals