手て不ぶ足そく

na-adjective, noun

shorthanded; understaffed

Describes a situation where there are not enough people to do the work. Often used with で or の to modify nouns.

• 今日きょうは手て不ぶ足そくで、仕し事ごとがなかなか終おわらない。

  We're shorthanded today, so the work just isn't getting done.

• 手て不ぶ足そくの店みせでは、サービスが遅おそくなりがちだ。

  In understaffed shops, service tends to be slow.