[short of(2)]{adv. phr.} Away from; at a distance from. •/The day’sdrive still left us a hundred miles short of the ocean./ •/The golfer’sshot fell far short of the hole./

[short of breath]{adj.} Panting and wheezing. •/He ran up sixflights of stairs so rapidly that he was short of breath for severalminutes./

[short-order cook]{n.} A person who prepares food that cooks quickly.•/Bruce found a summer job as a short-order cook in a drive-in restaurant./•/The new diner needs another short-order cook./ Compare: SLING HASH.

[short shrift]{n.} Little or no attention. — Usually used with "get"or "give". •/In books about jobs, women’s work is consistently given shortshrift./

[short-spoken]{adj.} Using so few words that you seem impatient orangry; speaking in a short impatient way; saying as little as possible in anunfriendly way. •/Jim is always short-spoken when he is tired./ •/We werehoping to borrow Dad’s car, but he was so short-spoken when he came home thatwe were afraid to ask./

[shot] See: BIG CHEESE or BIG SHOT, BY A LONG SHOT, CALL ONE’S SHOT, CALLTHE SHOTS, FOUL SHOT, LONG SHOT.

[shot in the arm]{n. phr.}, {informal} Something inspiring orencouraging. •/The general’s appearance was a shot in the arm for the wearysoldiers./ •/We were ready to quit, but the coach’s talk was a shot in thearm./

[shot in the dark]{n. phr.} An attempt without much hope or chance ofsucceeding; a wild guess. •/A was just a shot in the dark, but I got theright answer to the teacher’s question./

[shot through with] Full of. •/His speech was shot through with praisefor the president./ •/Jane’s letter was shot through with hints for apony./

[shoulder] See: CHIP ON ONE’S SHOULDER, COLD SHOULDER, GOOD HEAD ON ONE’SSHOULDERS, HEAD AND SHOULDERS, PUT ONE’S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL, ON ONE’SSHOULDERS, RUB ELBOWS or RUB SHOULDERS, SQUARE ONE’S SHOULDERS, WEIGHT OF THEWORLD ON ONE’S SHOULDERS.

[shoulder to cry on] or [to lean on] {n. phr.} A sympathetic personwho is willing to listen to one’s complaints and troubles. •/When Ken lefther, Donna needed a shoulder to lean on, and Bob was right there to fill therole./

[shoulder to shoulder]{adv. phr.} 1. One beside the other; together.•/The three boys were shoulder to shoulder all during the working hours./Compare: SIDE BY SIDE. 2. Each helping the other; in agreement; together. — Often used with "stand". •/We can win the fight if we all stand shoulder toshoulder./ Compare: SEE EYE TO EYE.

[shoulder to the wheel] See: PUT ONE’S SHOULDER TO THE WHEEL.

[shout down]{v.} To object loudly to; defeat by shouting. •/Gracesuggested that we give our club money to charity, but she was shouted down./•/The crowd shouted down the Mayor’s suggestions./

[shout from the housetops] or [shout from the rooftops] {v. phr.},{informal} To tell everyone; broadcast, especially one’s own personalbusiness. •/Mr. Clark was so happy when his son was born that he shouted thenews from the housetops./ •/When Mary bleached her hair, her neighborsshouted it from the housetops./

[shouting] See: ALL OVER BUT THE SHOUTING.

[shove down one’s throat] or [ram down one’s throat] {v. phr.},{informal} To force you to do or agree to (something not wanted or liked.)•/We didn’t want Mr. Bly to speak at our banquet, but the planning committeeshoved him down our throats./ •/The president was against the idea, but theclub members rammed it down his throat./

[shove off] See: PUSH OFF.

[show] See: GET THE SHOW ON THE ROAD, GO TO SHOW or GO TO PROVE, ROAD SHOW,STEAL THE SHOW, TALENT SHOW, VARIETY SHOW, WHOLE CHEESE or WHOLE SHOW.

[show a clean pair of heels] See: TAKE TO ONE’S HEELS.

[show around]{v. phr.} To act as a host or guide to someone; to shownewly arrived people or strangers what’s what and where. •/When Gordon andRose arrived in Hawaii for the first time, their host showed them around theislands./

[show cause]{v. phr.} To give a reason or explanation. •/The judgeasked the defendants to show cause why they should not be held without bail./

[showdown]{n.} A final challenge or confrontation during which bothsides have to use all of their resources. •/You cannot know a country’smilitary strength until a final showdown occurs./

[showgirl]{n.} One who works as an entertainer in a bar or nightclub,musical show, etc. •/Several famous Hollywood stars actually started theircareers as showgirls./

[show in] or [out] or [up] or [to the door] {v. phr.} Tousher; conduct; accompany. •/"My husband will show you in," Mary said to theguests when they arrived at the door./

[showoff]{n.} A boastful person. •/Jim always has to be the centerof attention; he is an insufferable showoff./

[show off]{v. phr.} 1. To put out nicely for people to see; display;exhibit. •/The Science Fair gave Julia a chance to show off her shellcollection./ •/The girls couldn’t wait to show off their fine needlework toour visitors./ 2. {informal} To try to attract attention; also, try toattract attention to. •/The children always show off when we have company./•/Joe hasn’t missed a chance to show off his muscles since that pretty girlmoved in next door./

[show of hands]{n. phr.} An open vote during a meeting when those whovote "yes" and those who vote "no" hold up their hands to be counted. •/Thechairman said, "I’d like to see a show of hands if we’re ready for thevote."/

[show one’s colors]{v. phr.} 1. To show what you are really like.•/We thought Toby was timid, but he showed his colors when he rescued theponies from the burning barn./ 2. To make known what you think or plan to do.•/Mr. Ryder is afraid that he will lose the election if he shows his colorson civil rights./ •/We would not help Jim until he showed his colors./

[show one’s face]{v. phr.} To be seen; appear. •/Bill is afraid toshow his face since Tom threatened to beat him up./ •/Judy is a wonderfulmimic but she is too shy to show her face on stage./ •/After cheating onthe test, Chris was ashamed to show his face./

[show one’s hand]{v. phr.} To reveal or exhibit one’s true andhitherto hidden purpose. •/Only after becoming Chancellor of Germany didAdolf Hitler really show his hand and reveal that he intended to take overother countries./

[show one’s teeth]{v. phr.} To show anger; show belligerence. •/Heis a very mild, private person, but during a tough business negotiation heknows how to show his teeth./

[show signs] See: GIVE SIGNS.

[show the door]{v. phr.} To ask (someone) to go away. •/Ruth wasupsetting the other children, so I showed her the door./ •/Our neighborsinvited themselves to the party and stayed until Harry showed them the door./

[show up]{v.} 1. To make known the real truth about (someone). •/Theman said he was a mind reader, but he was shown up as a fake./ 2. To come orbring out; become or make easy to see. •/The detective put a chemical on thepaper, and the fingertips showed up./ •/This test shows up your weaknessesin arithmetic./ 3. {informal} To come; appear. •/We had agreed to meetat the gym, but Larry didn’t show up./ •/Only five students showed up forthe class meeting./ Compare: TURN UP(2).