short-handed
1. Lacking enough people to do something easily, efficiently, or effectively, usually because some of the usual participants are unavailable. The department is always short-handed over the holidays. We barely have enough staff to handle all the calls from customers. The flu has sidelined nearly half the team. With so many of their regular lineup out sick, they're going to be quite short-handed tonight.
2. sports Having fewer players allowed to play than the other team, as owing to a penalty. Most commonly associated with ice hockey. That high-sticking penalty leaves the Owls short-handed for the next two minutes.
3. sports Of, describing, or relating to a period of time in which a team has fewer players than the other team, owing to a penalty. Carter has scored two short-handed goals tonight.
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