Come short Definition 1 of 2Pro Tip 1/3Expectation Gap Used when someone's performance doesn't meet the expected standards or goals. He trained hard but still came short of being selected for the team. Pro Tip 2/3Objective Not Met Emphasizes the failure to achieve a specific, often measurable, objective. The charity campaign came short of its donation target. Pro Tip 3/3Effort Acknowledged Acknowledges effort even though the desired outcome wasn't reached. She studied all night but still came short in the final exam.