short order

noun

a dish or serving of food that is quickly prepared upon request at a lunch counter.

short-order

[shawrt-awr-der]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

of, relating to, or specializing in short orders.
a short-order cook; short-order diner.
performed or supplied quickly.
They obtained a short-order divorce decree.

short order

noun

1. food that is easily and quickly prepared
2. ( as modifier )
  short-order counter

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Word History and Origins

Origin of short order¹

First recorded in 1890–95

Origin of short order²

First recorded in 1900–05

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Idioms and Phrases

Quickly; see in short order .

An order of food to be prepared and served quickly, as in It's just a diner, serving short orders exclusively . This expression, dating from about 1890, gave rise to the adjective short-order , used not only in short-order cook , a cook specializing in short orders, but in other terms such as short-order divorce , a divorce quickly obtained owing to liberal divorce laws.

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"Legal uncertainty would compromise it in very short order," he told MPs, adding "no responsible prime minister would let that happen".

From

Weiss in short order is engulfed by Spears’ world until it becomes his organizing principle.

From

In short order, an improbably staged accident leaves a dead body lying in the bathroom right before Meg’s parents arrive.

From

Wildlife officials set up a trap near Miller’s house, and in short order, a bear was caught.

From

And I think most of us figured that Musk and Trump would be headed the same way in short order.

From

short of short-range

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