B2idiomtimeIELTS-friendly
at short notice
USUK
with very little warning or time to prepare
British 'at short notice'; American 'on short notice'. 'At such short notice' is common in thanks and apologies. US 'canceled'.
In context
Thank you for coming in at such short notice to cover my class.
The meeting was cancelled at short notice, so I drove across town for nothing.
Common mistake
Incorrect: Sorry to ask you in short notice.
Correct: Sorry to ask you at short notice.
More idioms about time
- a blast from the pastsomething or someone that suddenly reminds you of an earlier time
- a long time comingif something is a long time coming, people have waited a long time for it
- a matter of timecertain to happen, although you do not know exactly when
- a race against timea situation where you must hurry to finish before time runs out
- a sign of the timessomething that shows how society is now, often in a bad way