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short
short have someone by the short and curlies (or short hair) have complete control of a person (originally as military slang, referring to pubic hair).
the short end of the stick an outcome in which one has less advantage than others. a short horse is soon curried proverbial saying, mid 14th century; meaning that a slight task is soon completed (literally, that it does not take long to rub down a short horse with a curry-comb). Short Parliament the first of two parliaments summoned by Charles I in 1640 (the other being the Long Parliament). Due to its insistence on seeking a general redress of grievances against him before granting the money he required, Charles dismissed it after only three weeks. short reckonings make long friends proverbial saying, mid 16th century; meaning that the prompt settlement of any debt between friends ensures that their friendship will not be damaged. short, sharp shock a brief but harsh custodial sentence handed down to an offender in an attempt to discourage them from committing further offences. The term attained a high profile in the UK in the early 1980s, following a recommendation to the 1979 Conservative Party Conference of the introduction of a regime of this kind to be applied to young offenders. short shrift rapid and unsympathetic dismissal; curt treatment; the phrase originally meant little time for a criminal to make his confession and be shriven (confessed and absolved) between condemnation and execution or punishment. See also art is long and life is short, draw the short straw. |
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Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "short." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "short." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-short.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "short." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-short.html |
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short
short, an adjective with many uses at sea. An anchor cable hove in short is when a vessel's anchor is nearly up and down in preparation for getting under way. A short sea is one in which the distance between wave crests is less than normal. For short allowance, see petty warrant. See also short splice.
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Cite this article
"short." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "short." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-short.html "short." The Oxford Companion to Ships and the Sea. 2006. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O225-short.html |
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short
short opp. long OE.; not reaching a certain standard XIV; friable, brittle XV. OE. sċeort = OHG. scurz :- Gmc. *skurtaz.
Hence shortage (orig. U.S.) XIX. Shortcoming XVII. f. phr. come s. |
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Cite this article
T. F. HOAD. "short." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. T. F. HOAD. "short." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-short.html T. F. HOAD. "short." The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology. 1996. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O27-short.html |
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short
short
•abort, apport, assort, athwart, aught, besought, bethought, bort, bought, brought, caught, cavort, comport, consort, contort, Cort, court, distraught, escort, exhort, export, extort, fort, fought, fraught, import, methought, misreport, mort, naught, nought, Oort, ought, outfought, port, Porte, purport, quart, rort, short, snort, sort, sought, sport, support, swart, taught, taut, thought, thwart, tort, transport, wart, wrought
•cohort • backcourt • Port Harcourt
•forecourt • onslaught • dreadnought
•Connacht • aeronaut • Argonaut
•juggernaut • cosmonaut • astronaut
•aquanaut • davenport • carport
•passport • airport
•Freeport, seaport
•Shreveport
•heliport, teleport
•Stockport • outport • Coalport
•spoilsport
•Newport, viewport
•hoverport
•forethought, malice aforethought
•afterthought • worrywart
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Cite this article
"short." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. 28 May. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "short." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Encyclopedia.com. (May 28, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-short.html "short." Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes. 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O233-short.html |
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