short order

¹

noun

1. a dish or serving of food that is quickly prepared upon request at a lunch counter.

short-order

²

[shawrt-awr-der]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or specializing in short orders.

   a short-order cook; short-order diner.

2. performed or supplied quickly.

   They obtained a short-order divorce decree.

short order

noun

1. 1. food that is easily and quickly prepared

   2. ( as modifier )

      short-order counter

Word History and Origins

Origin of short order¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Origin of short order²

First recorded in 1900–05

Idioms and Phrases

Quickly; see in short order .

An order of food to be prepared and served quickly, as in It's just a diner, serving short orders exclusively . This expression, dating from about 1890, gave rise to the adjective short-order , used not only in short-order cook , a cook specializing in short orders, but in other terms such as short-order divorce , a divorce quickly obtained owing to liberal divorce laws.

Example Sentences

What magic did Koerner perform to approach the finish line in short order, and are there lessons for others?

From Los Angeles Times

However, an agreement to reduce them to zero in short order was welcomed with some fanfare at the time by the government and the industry in July.

From BBC

In short order, the Pike was no longer at the beach.

From Los Angeles Times

Wednesday, when travelers heading out of town early for the Fourth of July could drop off their bags quickly and get to their gate in short order.

From Los Angeles Times

Meanwhile, US National Transportation Safety Board chair Jennifer Homendy told Reuters news agency that she hopes the Indian government will be able to share details from the investigation into the crash in short order.

From BBC