come up short

USAGE SUMMARY

"come up short" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to mean falling short of a desired result or expectation. For example, "The team came up short in the championship game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sports

Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Sometimes they come up short.

The New York Times - Arts

And we come up short.

The New York Times - Books

"Now it has come up short".

The New York Times

Figures of authority who come up short.

Independent

And we just come up short tonight".

The New York Times - Sports

No wonder they come up short.

The New York Times

And you come up short".

The New York Times - Sports

"He has come up short".

The New York Times

The insurgents had come up short again.

The New Yorker

Did Hart the artist come up short?

The New York Times - Books

B1 Ericsson's results come up short.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "come up short" when you want to express a failure to meet expectations or achieve a desired outcome, particularly after effort has been expended. For instance, "Despite their hard work, the team came up short in the final round".

Common error

Avoid using "come up short" to describe situations before any attempt has been made. It's more appropriate to use it after effort has been applied but the goal hasn't been reached. Incorrect: "The project will come up short." Correct: "The project came up short despite our best efforts."

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "come up short" is as a phrasal verb. It typically functions as the predicate of a sentence, indicating that a subject has failed to reach a desired level or outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Sports

23%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Academia

3%

Science

8%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "come up short" is a phrasal verb that signifies a failure to meet expectations or achieve a desired outcome. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically correct and widely used. While it's acceptable in most contexts, more formal alternatives may be preferable for academic or professional writing. Its frequent occurrence in news and sports reporting indicates its broad applicability in describing situations where efforts fall short of success. Remember to use it after an attempt has been made, and not in the planning stage. There are many alternatives that could be used instead such as "fail to deliver", "not measure up", or "be deficient".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

fall short

This alternative is slightly more formal and direct, emphasizing a lack of attainment.

miss the mark

This alternative uses a visual metaphor to describe the failure to achieve a goal.

not measure up

This alternative emphasizes a deficiency in quality or ability compared to a required standard.

prove inadequate

This alternative is more formal and highlights the insufficient nature of something.

be deficient

This option pinpoints the absence of a necessary component or quality.

fail to deliver

This alternative underlines the inability to produce the expected outcome.

be found wanting

This alternative suggests that something has been judged and deemed insufficient.

not cut it

This alternative is more informal and implies that something is not good enough.

be lacking

This alternative plainly states the absence of something needed.

flounder

This alternative focuses on a struggle or inability to succeed.

FAQs

What does "come up short" mean?

The phrase "come up short" means to fail to meet a goal, standard, or expectation. It often implies that an effort was made but was ultimately insufficient.

How can I use "come up short" in a sentence?

You can use "come up short" to describe a situation where someone or something fails to achieve a desired outcome. For example, "The company "fell short" of its sales target this quarter" or "The team "missed the mark" in the final seconds of the game".

What are some synonyms for "come up short"?

Some synonyms for "come up short" include "fall short", "miss the mark", "not measure up", or "prove inadequate".

Is it appropriate to use "come up short" in formal writing?

While "come up short" is widely understood, it leans towards informal usage. In formal writing, consider using more precise alternatives such as "fail to meet expectations" or "prove insufficient" depending on the specific context.