职场英语流行美语对话：be short of hands 缺乏人手，人手不够
short作表语时指"某物不够，缺乏某物"的意思，常与介词of搭配使用，既短语be short of something.
A: You look worried about something. What's the matter? 你好像很着急，怎么了?
B: My computer isn't working and I have got an important contract to type. 我的电脑坏了，可我还有一份重要合同要打出来。
A: Why don't you call the computer company? 你为什么不给计算机公司打个电话?
B: I did, but they said the company was short of hands and couldn't send any man today. 我打了，可他们说人手不够，今天不能派人来。
A: What should I do? 我该怎么办呢?
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知识拓展：和hand有关的俚语俗语
the hidden hand 看不见的势力，幕后操纵者
the last hand 最后几笔，定稿前的润色
his hand is in. 他在不断地练习
his hand is out. 他不行
my hands are tied. 我的权力极其有限
write a good hand 写得一笔好字
ask for a girl's hand 向女子求婚
a clean hand wants no washing. 〔谚语〕手上不沾污〔指罪恶、坏事等〕，不必多洗刷
cool hand 冒失鬼
a crack [good, great] hand 行家，熟手
a dead hand 【法律】没有让渡权的所有主
extra hands 临时工
a free hand 放手处理的权力 (allow sb. a free hand in his work 让某人放手工作)
a fresh [green] hand 生手
a good [poor] hand at 巧[拙]于
a hand's turn 小事 (not do a hand's turn 易如反掌的事都不做)
a nap hand 一手好牌;有利的地位
a numb hand 笨人
all hands to the pump(s) 大家都来帮忙
an old hand 内行，过来人
at first hand 直接 (knowledge at first hand 第一手知识)
bathe [dip] one's hands in blood 双手沾满鲜血，成为杀人犯
bear [lend] a hand (in) 参加
bear [lend] a hand (with) 帮助， 出一把力
be even hands with sb. 〔苏格兰语〕 向某人报复，同某人算账
be out of sb.'s hands 某人不能控制[处理、负责]
bite the hand that feeds one 忘恩负义，恩将仇报