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should
,shorthand 'typist especially BrE || also **stenographer** espe-
cially AmE — *n* a person who uses shorthand to write down
what someone is saying, and then types (TYPE) a copy of it
**'short-haul** *adj* [A] (of an aircraft flight) covering a fairly
short distance → compare LONG-HAUL
**short-ie** /'ʃɔti||'ʃːrti/ *n* *humor derog* SHORTY
**'short list** *n* BrE a list of the few most suitable people for a
job, chosen from all the people who were considered at first:
*She was on the short list for the position of director.* | to draw
up a short list
**short-list** *v* [T(for) usually pass.] BrE to put on a SHORT LIST: *He's*
*been short-listed for the director's job.*
,**short-'lived** *adj* (especially of a feeling or condition) lasting
only for a short period: *Their opposition to the plan was*
*short-lived.*
**short-ly** /'ʃɔtli||'ʃːrt-/ *adv* **1** soon; (in) a little time: *Ms*
*Jones will be back shortly.* | *The President returned to work*
*shortly after his operation.* **2** impatiently; not politely; in a
SHORT way: *She answered me rather shortly.* **3** in a few
words
**'short-order ,cook** *n* AmE a cook in a restaurant such as a
COFFEE SHOP who cooks foods that do not need a lot of
preparation and that cook quickly, such as HAMBURGERS
**'short-range** *adj* [A] of or covering a short distance or a short
time: *short-range weather forecasts* | *a short-range missile*
**shorts** /ʃɔts||ʃɔrts/ *n* [P] **1** short trousers ending at or
above the knees, as worn in playing games, in hot weather,
or by children. Shorts are usually worn in rather informal
situations. **2** especially AmE men's short UNDERPANTS → see
PAIR (USAGE)
**'short-sheet** *v* [T] AmE *infml* to rearrange the sheet on some-
one's bed, so that the sheet that would usually cover some-
one's feet is too short. This is usually done as a joke, especially
at SUMMER CAMPS in the US → compare APPLE-PIE BED
**short shrift** /ˌʃːt 'ʃrɪft||ˌʃɔrt-/ *n* [U] unfairly quick or
unsympathetic treatment, giving little attention: *My sugges-*
*tion was given short shrift.* | *The armed forces are well funded*
*but education is getting short shrift.*
**short-sight-ed** /ˌʃɔːt'saɪtɪd ||ʃɔrt-/ *adj* **1** especially BrE ||
**nearsighted** especially AmE – unable to see objects clearly if
they are not close to the eyes → opposite LONG-
SIGHTED **2** *derog* not considering the likely future effects of
present action; lacking FORESIGHT: *It's very shortsighted (of*
*you) not to spend money on repairing your house.* → opposite
FARSIGHTED —**-ly** *adv* —**-ness** *n* [U]
,**short-'staffed** *adj* without enough workers: *If you're look-*
*ing for a job, I hear they're very short-staffed at the biscuit*
*factory.*
**'short-stay** *adj* [A] BrE short-stay hotels, car parks etc are
places that you can stay for only a short time
**short-stop** /'ʃɔːtstɒp||'ʃɔrtstɑːp/ *n* (in BASEBALL) the
player who plays in the area between second and third BASE
and tries to stop any balls that are hit into that area
,**short 'story** *n* a short invented written story, shorter than a
NOVEL, usually containing only a few characters and often
dealing with feelings rather than events
,**short-'tempered** *adj* **1** getting angry early: *He's rather*
*short-tempered these days.* **2** showing impatience and anger:
*a short-tempered reply*
,**short-'term, short term** *adj, n* [the S] (concerning) a short
period of time; (in or for) the near future: *short-term*
*planning/borrowing* | *This is only a short-term solution to our*
*problems.* | *Profits will fall in the short term, but should start*
*to rise again next year.* → opposite LONG-TERM
,**short 'time** *n* [U] BrE work at a factory, office etc, for a
shorter than usual period each day or week: *Workers were*
*put on short time because raw materials were scarce.*
**'short wave** *n* [U] radio broadcasting or receiving on waves
of less than 60 metres in length, which can be sent around
the world → compare LONG WAVE, MEDIUM WAVE
**short-y, shortie** /'ʃɔːti||'ʃɔrti/ *n* *humor derog* (used when
speaking to or about a short person)
**Sho-sho-ne** /ʃəʊ'ʃəʊni/ *n* **1** the Shoshone [plural] a group
of Native American tribes who lived between southeast Cali-
fornia and west Wyoming. The COMANCHE tribes separated
from them and moved to Texas **2** [C] a member of one of
the tribes in this group → see Cultural Note at NATIVE
AMERICAN —**Shoshone** *adj*
**Shos-ta-ko-vich, Di-mi-tri** /ˌʃstə'kəʊvɪtʃ||ˌʃɑːs-,
dri'miːtri/ (1906–75) a Russian COMPOSER known especially for
his symphonies (SYMPHONY) and for his OPERA, *Lady Mac-*
*beth of Mtsensk*. The SOVIET government sometimes disap-
proved of his music because they considered that it did not
express Soviet principles.
**shot¹** /ʃɒt||ʃɑːt/ *n* **1** [C] the action of shooting a weapon or
the sound that it makes: *She fired three shots.* | (*fig.*) *With this*
*speech he has fired the opening shots (=taken the first*
*action) in the election campaign.* | *I heard a shot.* **2** [C] a kick,
hit, throw etc, of a ball in an attempt to make a point in a
game: *His shot went wide of/to the right of the goal.* | *Watson*
*won the golf match by two shots.* | *Good shot!* **3** [C] a person
who shoots with the stated degree of skill: *She's a good/*
*crack (=very good)/poor shot.* **4** [C(at) usually sing.] *infml* a
chance or attempt to do something; GO: *It's a difficult job but*
*I'd like (to have) a shot at it.* **5** [U] nonexplosive metal in the
form of balls for shooting from SHOTGUNS or from CANNONS
in former times → see also BUCKSHOT, GRAPESHOT **6** [C]
the heavy metal ball used in the SHOT PUT **7** [C] *infml* a
photograph: *I got some good shots of the carnival.* **8** [C] a
single part of a cinema film made by one camera without
interruption: *an action shot* **9** [C] *infml* a taking of a drug or
VACCINE into the bloodstream through a needle; INJECTION:
*a shot of penicillin* **10** [C] *infml* a sending up of a spacecraft or
ROCKET: *a moon shot (=for a journey to the moon)* **11** [C]
*infml* a chance with the stated degree of risk: *The horse is an 8*
*to 5 shot to win the race.* → see also LONG SHOT **12** [C(of)]
especially AmE a small alcoholic drink for swallowing at once: *a*
*shot of vodka* | *a shot glass* **13** like a shot *infml* without any
delay and especially eagerly: *When he offered me the job, I*
*accepted like a shot.* **14** not by a long shot especially AmE not
at all; not by any means: *The problem isn't solved yet, not by*
*a long shot.* **15** shot across the bows something done or
said as a warning to someone not to carry out a
plan **16** shot in the arm *infml* something that has the effect
of producing a better, more active and more confident
condition: *Everyone agrees that the economy needs a shot in*
*the arm from a consumer spending spree.* **17** shot in the
dark *infml* a guess unsupported by arguments → see also BIG
SHOT, PARTING SHOT, call the shots (CALL) **18** cheap shot
AmE *infml derog* a nasty INSULT (=a rude of offensive remark):
*That was a cheap shot, saying she was fat and stupid!*
**shot²** *adj* **1** [F+of] BrE *infml* rid of; finished with: *I was glad to*
*be/get shot of that nasty cold.* **2** [(with)] woven in two
different colours, one along and one across the material,
giving a changing effect of colour: *a dress of shot silk.* **3** [F]
*infml* destroyed or worn out because of hard treatment: *My*
*nerves are shot; I need a holiday.* **4** shot through with
especially *lit* having a lot of (a particular quality) in a mixture;
full of: *His stories are shot through with a gentle sadness.*
**shot³** *past tense & participle of* SHOOT
**shot-gun** /'ʃɒtgʌn||'ʃɑːt-/ *n* a gun fired from the shoulder,
usually having two barrels and firing SHOT, especially to kill
birds → see also SAWN-OFF SHOTGUN
,**shotgun 'wedding** *n* *often humor* a wedding that has to take
place, usually because the woman is going to have a baby
and her parents want her and the baby to be publicly
respectable
**CULTURAL NOTE** IN CARTOONS the man and woman are
often shown with the woman's father holding a shotgun to
force the man to marry his daughter.
**'shot put** *n* [the S] a sporting competition to throw a heavy
metal ball (SHOT) the furthest distance —**-ter** *n*: *an Olympic*
*shot putter*
**should** /ʃəd; strong ʃʊd/ *v* 3rd person sing. **should**, negative short
form **shouldn't** [modal+H] **1** **a)** (expressing duty or what is
necessary or desirable) ought to: *If you see anything unusual*
*you should call the police.* | *He shouldn't have/oughtn't to*
*have said that.* (=he said it but it was bad to do so) | *You*
*shouldn't be so impatient with him.* | *They should be made to*
*repay the money they stole.* | (showing annoyance) *Why*
*shouldn't I buy a new coat – I haven't bought one for five*
*years!* **b)** (expressing likelihood, especially of a desirable