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to sell sb/sth short
01
to not value a person or thing as one should
![to [sell] {sb/sth} short definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/44552/original/?type=jpeg "to [sell] {sb/sth} short definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "sell someone or something short" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "sell someone or something short" is closely tied to financial and trading terminology. In stock trading and financial markets, the term "short selling" refers to a practice where an investor sells an asset (like a stock) that they do not currently own, hoping to buy it back at a lower price in the future. This practice involves betting that the asset's value will decrease. It often arises in discussions involving judgments, assessments, or decisions where it is important to acknowledge and appreciate the full extent of someone's capabilities or the true value of something.
Example
He sold the shares short, hoping to buy them back at a lower price.
The investor decided to sell the stock short, anticipating a decline in its value.
The coach sold the underdog team short, not expecting them to win the championship.
