nothing short of

Idioms

The equivalent of, the same as, as in His accusation is nothing short of slander. This term is slightly stronger than little short of, meaning “almost the same as,” as in Her claim is little short of stupid. The first term dates from about 1800, the second from about 1830. Also see short of.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It is nothing short of a revelation, one in which we are invited to eavesdrop on a decadeslong tête-à-tête between the two masters as they discover, reinvent and refine their forms and materials.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

The May rally for U.S. stocks has been nothing short of breathtaking — unless you have made a point of avoiding the information-technology sector.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

Being in Mecca has been nothing short of blissful for Hassan Qadiri, where participating in the festivities of the hajj pilgrimage is a welcome relief after weeks of devastating war back home in Iran.

From Barron's • May 25, 2026

The closing stages of the match with West Ham were nothing short of chaotic.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

It’s nothing short of a miracle that the pee actually stays in.

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023