short of 1 adj. phr. 1. Less or worse than. Don't do anything short of your best. 2. Not having enough. We did not buy anything because we were short of money. The girls were asked to wait on tables because the kitchen was short of help.
short of 2 adv. phr. Away from; at a distance from. The day's drive still left us a hundred miles short of the ocean. The golfer's shot fell far short of the hole.