on short notice

Meaning

This phrase means with very little advance warning or time to prepare. It is frequently used in business when scheduling meetings, requesting urgent tasks, or making sudden changes to plans.

Examples

• Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice.

  Thank you for agreeing to meet with me on such short notice.

• We had to cancel the presentation on short notice due to technical issues.

  We had to cancel the presentation on short notice due to technical issues.

• It is difficult to find a replacement speaker on short notice.

  It is difficult to find a replacement speaker on short notice.

• She managed to prepare the financial report on very short notice.

  She managed to prepare the financial report on very short notice.

• I apologize for calling this meeting on short notice, but we have an emergency.

  I apologize for calling this meeting on short notice, but we have an emergency.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ He cancelled the meeting in short notice.

  ✓ He cancelled the meeting on short notice.

  The correct preposition to use with this phrase is 'on' (especially in US English) or 'at' (in UK English), never 'in'.

• ✗ Thank you for coming with a short notice.

  ✓ Thank you for coming on short notice.

  Do not use the indefinite article 'a' in this idiom. It is always 'on short notice' or 'on such short notice'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• I know it is ___ , but can you review this contract before 5 PM?

  💡 With very little warning.

  Show answer

  on short notice

• She had to fly to Chicago ___ because of a client emergency.

  💡 With little preparation time.

  Show answer

  on short notice