nothing short of

Idioms  

1. 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

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

It was seen as nothing short of a miracle when he was passed fit to head to Germany.

From BBC • May 10, 2026

These long, winding, canal-like tunnels, big enough for boats, are nothing short of the subterranean answer to the city’s boulevards, with an unexpected, if somewhat infernal, majesty.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

And I knew that if you could keep score for such a thing, and, of course, I did keep that score, my Degree of Loserdom would be nothing short of godlike.

From "Winger" by Andrew Smith