Short Meaning
Short Definition & Usage
Having a small length or duration.
Examples
- "The meeting was too short for any meaningful discussion."
- "She wore a short dress to the party."
- "My vacation was so short that I barely had time to relax."
- "This phone's battery life is really short."
- "His short haircut suited him well."
To sell something, typically stocks or other securities, in anticipation that its price will fall.
Examples
- "He shorted Tesla stock when it hit its peak."
- "The hedge fund made a fortune by shorting the market during the crisis."
- "I’m considering shorting oil if the prices keep rising."
- "Investors who shorted the tech stock were in for a surprise when it soared."
- "They shorted the currency as part of their global strategy."
A position in which an investor sells a security they do not own, betting that its value will decline.
Examples
- "He took a short on the company because he believed its stock would drop."
- "The trader lost his shirt when his shorts turned into huge losses."
- "They are heavily into shorts right now, betting against the tech sector."
- "A short in the market is a risky move, but it can yield high returns."
- "After taking a short position, the stock plummeted, making the investors a fortune."
A casual or informal term used as an abbreviation of the word 'shorts', referring to a type of clothing.
Examples
- "He was wearing a t-shirt and shorts to the barbecue."
- "During the summer, I always wear shorts to stay cool."
- "She bought new shorts for the vacation."
- "The kids love running around in their shorts all day."
- "He packed a pair of shorts for the beach trip."
Cultural Context
The word 'short' has a rich history, originating from the Latin 'brevis', meaning brief or small, and it has evolved in various ways depending on the context. Its usage spans physical descriptions, business terminology, and everyday casual language.
The Short Sale
Story
The Short Sale
It was a quiet Friday afternoon, and Alex was sitting at his desk, staring at the stock charts on his computer screen. He had been eyeing a particular tech stock for weeks, and today, it seemed like the perfect time to act. His fingers hovered over the mouse, the temptation of a short position too strong to resist. "Are you sure this is the right move?" his colleague, Maya, asked, peeking over his shoulder. "The market is volatile, Alex. This could backfire." Alex smiled, his confidence growing as he clicked on the 'sell' button. He was shorting the stock, betting that it would fall in the next few days. It was risky, but he was convinced that the stock was overvalued. Later that afternoon, they had a meeting with their boss. As they sat in the conference room, Maya, dressed in a sharp suit, noticed the time on her watch. "This meeting is running short on time. We should wrap this up soon," she said, glancing at the clock. Alex's mind drifted back to the market. He was still thinking about his short position when he heard Maya's voice again. "So, what are you doing this weekend?" "Probably just relaxing at home. I might put on some shorts and watch the game. It's supposed to be warm," Alex replied with a laugh. By Monday morning, Alex had woken up to a surge in the stock market. His short position had taken a huge hit. The stock had gone up instead of down, and he was facing considerable losses. Maya caught him later that day, shaking her head. "I told you the risks of shorting. Sometimes, things don’t go as planned." Despite the setback, Alex learned an important lesson: short positions were not to be taken lightly. As the week passed, he decided to recalibrate his strategy, but he also made sure to pack some shorts for the weekend – a reminder that no matter how short the time, life always had its ups and downs.
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