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de menos

[duh MEH-nos]
adverbial phrase
too little, insufficient, lacking
1. An insufficient quantity or amount; not enough
We have five people but only four chairs - we're one short.
Temos cinco pessoas, mas apenas quatro cadeiras - temos uma de menos.
2. Below what is needed or expected
He paid less than he owed.
Ele pagou de menos o que devia.
3. In insufficient quantity (in commerce/transactions)
The cashier gave me change short by five dollars.
O caixa me deu troco de menos em cinco dólares.
Synonyms
insuficientefaltapoucoinsuficientemente
Antonyms
de maisdemaissuficientebastante

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
de menos
Standard usage in everyday speech and commerce
Portugal
de menos
Standard usage, though 'em falta' may also be used
São Paulo
de menos
Common in commercial and casual contexts

Related Idioms & Phrases

estar de menos
dar de menos
receber de menos
levar de menos
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