run short

Idioms  

1. Use something up so that a supply runs out or becomes insufficient, as in We ran short of envelopes, or The organization is running short of money. [Mid-1700s]

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Example Sentences

He recently asked OpenAI to lead a funding round for Helion after the nuclear-fusion startup fell behind on promises of a breakthrough energy source and began to run short on cash.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

Social Security’s trust fund supporting seniors is expected to run short of money in a few short years, resulting in benefit cuts of 22.5% in 2033, according to the Trustees report released in June.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 17, 2026

Crawley set the tone, helping them race to 49 without loss by the end of the powerplay, before falling just one run short of a fifty.

From BBC • Aug. 23, 2025

Despite falling a run short, stringing a few hits together showed that the Angels could build off each other to produce runs.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2025

“Say, could you let me have five until the twentieth? That’s when my alimony check comes. I usually don’t run short, but I had a problem last week.”

From "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes