informal to cheat someone by giving them less than they expected.
No one told me the film was only an hour long - I was short-changed!
(usually passive)
(redirected from short-change someone)
short-change (one)
To cheat someone out of the amount they had expected or were promised. Fast-food restaurants always short-change you on the soft drinks by filling the cups with ice.I feel like he short-changed the audience by finishing the concert after less than an hour.