come up short
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.
Inside the local university’s gym, the Harlem Globetrotters had come up short.
From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026
International Business Machines warned last week that its quarterly revenue had come up short as customers drained their budgets on artificial-intelligence hardware, leaving less room to invest in software.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 22, 2026
Even in years with decent snow, streamflow has come up short.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 14, 2026
Arteta's Arsenal will be desperate to shed their tag as the side that has come up short in recent years.
From BBC ● Mar. 22, 2026
“He’s dying for the bread order to come up short, you know. You should throw a roll in the trash one day, just to make him happy.”
From "When You Reach Me" by Rebecca Stead
