be caught (或英

be put at a disadvantage

被置于不利地位

the troubled company has been caught short by price competition in a recession-stricken market.

这家麻烦重重的公司由于受到价格竞争，在萧条的市场中处于不利地位。

a brick short of a load, two sandwiches short of a

(informal)(of a person) stupid; crazy

(非正式)（指人）愚蠢的

she's two bricks short of a load.

她太笨了。

bring (或 pull) someone up short

make someone check or pause abruptly

使突然受阻（或中断）

he was entering the office when he was brought up short by the sight of John.

他正要进办公室，突然见到约翰而止步。

come short

fail to reach a goal or standard

未达到目标（或标准）

we're so close to getting the job done, but we keep &B{coming up} short.

我们就快把工作做完了，但是还是未能达到目标。

get (或 have) someone by the short and curlies (或 s

(informal)have complete control of a person

(非正式)完全控制某人

go short

not have enough of something, especially food

（尤指食物）短缺

you won't go short when I die.

我死后你不会缺衣少食的。

in short order

(chiefly US)immediately; rapidly

(主美)立刻；迅速

after the killing the camp had been shut down in short order.

在发生残杀之后，营地马上关闭了。

in the short run

in the near future

在不远的将来

in short supply

scarce

缺少

in the short term

in the near future

在不远的将来

little (或nothing) short of

almost (or equal to); little (or nothing) less than

差不多；等于；一点也不少于

he regarded the cost of living as little short of scandalous.

在他看来，生活费用几乎是骇人听闻的。

make short work of

accomplish, consume, or destroy quickly

快速实现（或消费、毁坏）

we made short work of our huge portions.

我们很快吃掉份量很大的食物。

short and sweet

brief and pleasant

短暂愉快的

his comments were short and sweet.

他的评论很短、很愉悦。

short of breath

panting; short-winded

呼吸短促的；气喘的

未能消除全民警惕，我们什么事都做不了.