shortchange
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to give less than the correct change to.
-
to deal with unfairly or dishonestly, especially to cheat.
Other Word Forms
- shortchanger noun
Etymology
Origin of shortchange
An Americanism dating back to 1890–95
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.
Even before the first bombs fell on Iran, after all, the U.S. was shortchanging all those imperatives.
From Los Angeles Times
Manfred’s strategy as commissioner of Major League Baseball has been to talk directly with the players himself, especially the lower-earning younger players who he claims are being shortchanged.
From Los Angeles Times
To be clear, we don’t want to shortchange our daughter just because the focus seems to be on the boys.
From MarketWatch
Ms. Weisz is shortchanged by the material, which likely wouldn’t be improved by, say, a snappier delivery.
If it’s bona-fide Arthur Conan Doyle, I am being decidedly shortchanged.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
