supply
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be in short supply
To be scarce. Those toys have been in short supply ever since that website featured them. Kindness seems to be in short supply these days, so it's nice to see someone being so selfless. If you have to go to the mall on Christmas Eve, you can count on patience being in short supply.
in short supply
Scarce. Those toys are in short supply ever since that website featured them. Kindness seems to be in short supply these days, so it's nice to see someone being so selfless.
supply (someone or something) with (someone or something)
To furnish, equip, or provide someone or something with one or more people or things. This company supplies the entire region with electricity. I can supply you with all the workers you need to get this build finished in time.
See also: supply
supply and demand
The amount of something available to purchase compared to the number of people who need or want to purchase it. The company has had a hard time figuring out supply and demand on their first product, which has been incredibly popular but very difficult to find in stores.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
in short supply
Fig. scarce. Fresh vegetables are in short supply in the winter. Yellow cars are in short supply because everyone likes them and buys them. At this time of the year, fresh vegetables go into short supply.
supply and demand
the availability of things or people as compared to the need to utilize the things or people; the availability of goods compared to the number of willing customers for the goods. Sometimes you can find what you want by shopping around and other times almost no store carries the items you are looking for. It depends entirely on supply and demand. (Alludes to a principle of market economics.) Sometimes customers ask for things we do not carry in stock and other times we have things in abundance that no one wants to buy. Whether or not we can make money off of a product depends entirely on supply and demand.
supply someone or something with something
to provide something to someone or something. We will supply you with all the pencils you need. We supplied the committee with ice water.
See also: supply
supply something (to someone or something) (from something)
to provide someone or something with something from some source. I supplied ice cream to the new restaurant from a very expensive source. We supplied nuts from a pushcart. Frank supplied nothing at all to them.
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
in short supply
Less than is needed, lacking. For example, Skilled operators were in short supply, or The hotels are all full, and beds are in short supply. [First half of 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
be in ˌshort supˈply
not be enough of something; be scarce: During the war, many things were in short supply.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017