long on one thing and short on another

long on (something) and short on (something else)

Having an excessive amount of one trait or quality while having too little of another. Critics found the book to be long on wordplay and short on plot or well written characters.

See also: and, long, on, short

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

long on one thing and short on another

COMMON If someone says that something is long on one thing and short on another, they mean that it has a lot of the first thing but not enough of the second. This performance is long on drama and short on worthwhile music. The prime minister's speech was long on words but short on solid action. Note: People sometimes say that something is short on one thing and long on another. Her book was short on biographical detail but long on literary interpretation.

See also: and, another, long, on, one, short, thing

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012