short-change
Britishverb
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to give less than correct change to
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slang to treat unfairly or dishonestly, esp by giving less than is deserved or expected
Other Word Forms
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.
When time was up, some accused the organizers of a conspiracy to short-change the cake-eaters’ time.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 29, 2025
“The only alternative is to short-change devastated residents.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 15, 2025
Business Minister Paul Scully said: "There is never an excuse to short-change workers and paying the minimum wage isn't optional."
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2021
Pandemic preparedness would be a disastrously short-sighted priority to short-change, for at least three reasons.
From Washington Post ● Aug. 2, 2021
It's like this, Aunt Tish," he said; "you are accused of practicing a short-change game, that's all.
From Tish by Mary Roberts Rinehart
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
