American idioms for financial and social transactions

The word behind the copyright notice in this cartoon is "Belated," which means "late."

American idioms for social and financial transactions
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When I was growing up, my friend owed me five dollars. He offered to pay me the following Tuesday. However, he did not actually pay me until Wednesday—a day late. To make matters worse, he only paid back four dollars, so he was a dollar short. Naturally I felt angry towards my friend and resented that he had taken advantage of me. Even though he made some effort to pay me back, the effort was overdue and fell short of the goal as well. In the U.S. (and maybe elsewhere), “a day late and a dollar short” is a common expression that expresses our disappointment and frustration with the actions of others.

In the workplace, some people do not get favorable reviews or get passed over for promotions and raises. Often after complaining about their stagnant career, they receive a small raise. Company morale probably suffers when employees feel they are receiving recognition a day late (after having to complain) and a dollar short (only a small raise, not a substantial one). Whenever someone’s reward is delayed for a long time and at last turns out to be smaller than hoped or expected, they know the feeling of “a day late and a dollar short.” Almost everyone experiences this growing up. Maybe you had to wait a long time for something that turned out less than what you expected.

Too often we are not rewarded for our positive efforts at all. In many cases, people’s greatness is recognized only after they die. Some of the greatest artists and composers died in poverty and obscurity. Only after their death did recognition and reward come for them. In those sad cases, we can say these creative geniuses got their reward a day late and a dollar short.

Even if someone pays on time, they might try to pay less than they owe. They might try to “short-change” you. When this happens in the store it is usually a mistake. Most clerks very carefully count out the money for your inspection and welcome you to count it for yourself. Likewise, bank tellers have special training for handling the large amounts of cash that pass through their hands daily. Honest people naturally do not try to deceive others, so getting short-changed is not common with cash.

Just as with the previous expression, “short-change” has literal and symbolic meanings. In social groups, anyone who does not share and participate equally with others is getting “short-changed.” In the U.S., many people feel like the richest 1% is getting richer, while the other 99% is getting short-changed. While everyone in the U.S. is supposed to be equal, the fact is that lower and middle class people, the majority of the population, are getting short-changed. Our political leaders keep debating what to do. If any help actually comes from our leaders, most likely it will be a day late and a dollar short.

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