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Zuotengdazuo Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary
What does "come up short" mean here?
As I can't look up the phrase in my dictionary, I search for "come up" and "short" respectively. After I get their meanings respectively, it seems the phrase means "thrust suddenly" to me. Am I right? While someone else argues it means "fail to achieve the goal", I am a bit confused. It seems both meanings work here. Does this phrase have two meanings? Dear teachers, please shed some light on it. Here is the quotation:
Langdon skidded back, and the point came up short, catching only his shirt. Again the point came at him. Langdon slid farther back, feeling the banister right behind him.
Top answer
zuotengdazuo , I search for "come up" and "short" respectively. After I get their meanings respectively, it seems the phrase means "thrust suddenly" to me. Am I right?
- zuotengdazuo , I search for "come up" and "short" respectively.
- After I get their meanings respectively, it seems the phrase means "thrust suddenly" to me.
- Am I right?
- No.
- zuotengdazuo someone else argues it means "fail to achieve the goal", Yes, that is the meaning.
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5 Answers
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zuotengdazuo, I search for "come up" and "short" respectively. After I get their meanings respectively, it seems the phrase means "thrust suddenly" to me. Am I right?No.
zuotengdazuo someone else argues it means "fail to achieve the goal",Yes, that is the meaning.
come up = finish
short= before t
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Thank you very much, I understand. So in this context it means the point of the spear missed Langdon, right?
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zuotengdazuoit means the point of the spear missed LangdonCorrect.
CJ
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zuotengdazuoSo in this context it means the point of the spear missed Langdon, right?It stopped before it reached his skin.
Miss = go past some target without hitting it
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