adjective
shorthanded
adjective
1
Not having enough staff or workers to operate normally.
"The restaurant was shorthanded on a Friday night, which meant slow service."
2
In ice hockey, having fewer players on the ice than the opposing team, usually due to a penalty.
"He scored a shorthanded goal while his team was down a man."
How to Use Shorthanded
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMissing enough people to do the job properly — in hockey, playing with a man disadvantage.
Common pairings
shorthanded goal
badly shorthanded
Word Forms
more shorthanded comparative, more shorthanded comparative, most shorthanded superlative, most shorthanded superlative
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The restaurant was _____ on a Friday night, which meant slow service.
Etymology
From short + handed.