The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 5 letter word SHORT
I've seen this crossword clue in The Times
S
H
O
R
T
More clues leading to the result SHORT
- Attempt to contain resistance is of limited duration
- Brief attempt about right
- Like some missiles — type crossing top of high mountains ?
- Style of writing supported by editor in need of more staff
- Fail to give full details to brusque coppers?
- Treated unfairly as brusque Conservative put to death
- Brief opportunity to overcome resistance
- Cheating brief, putting fresh clothes on
- Wanting some monkfish or turbot
- Small drink
Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "in need of more staff" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case in need of more staff = short.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does SHORT mean?
SHORT noun- A short circuit.
- A short film.
- A short version of a garment in a particular size.
- A shortstop.
- A short seller.
- A short sale.
- A summary account.
- A short sound, syllable, or vowel.
- An integer variable having a smaller range than normal integers; usually two bytes long.
- An automobile; especially in crack shorts, to break into automobiles.
- To cause a short circuit in (something).
- Of an electrical circuit, to short circuit.
- To shortchange.
- To provide with a smaller than agreed or labeled amount.
- To sell something, especially securities, that one does not own at the moment for delivery at a later date in hopes of profiting from a decline in the price; to sell short.
- To shorten.
- Having a small distance from one end or edge to another, either horizontally or vertically.
- (of a person) Of comparatively small height.
- Having little duration.
- (followed by for) Of a word or phrase, constituting an abbreviation (for another) or shortened form (of another).
- (of a fielder or fielding position) that is relatively close to the batsman.
- (of a ball) that bounced relatively far from the batsman.
- (of an approach shot or putt) that falls short of the green or the hole.
- (of pastries) Brittle, crumbly, especially due to the use of a large quantity of fat. (See shortbread, shortcake, shortcrust, shortening.)
- Abrupt; brief; pointed; petulant.
- Limited in quantity; inadequate; insufficient; scanty.
- Insufficiently provided; inadequately supplied, especially with money; scantily furnished; lacking.
- Deficient; less; not coming up to a measure or standard.
- Undiluted; neat.
- Not distant in time; near at hand.
- Being in a financial investment position that is structured to be profitable if the price of the underlying security declines in the future.
- Abruptly, curtly, briefly.
- Unawares.
- Without achieving a goal or requirement.
- (of the manner of bounce of a cricket ball) Relatively far from the batsman and hence bouncing higher than normal; opposite of full.
- With a negative ownership position.
- Deficient in.
- Having a negative position in.