short one

short

informal To give less than (someone) is entitled to receive; to shortchange (someone). They tried to short us on the sale by including a bunch of bogus service charges as a part of the transaction. If you short me again, I'll take my business elsewhere.

short one

slang A small alcoholic beverage, especially one that is drunk very quickly. I think we have time for a short one before the train leaves. What'll you have? I said I was only going for a short one, but I ended up staying at the bar until 2 AM.
See also: one, short
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

short one

n. a small or quickly drunk drink of liquor, including beer. (Compare this with tall one.) How about a short one, innkeeper?
See also: one, short
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
See also:
  • short
  • bogus
  • bogus beef
  • a bunch of fives
  • bunch of fives
  • bunch
  • a whole bunch
  • swindle (something) out of (one)
  • jocky
  • overserved
References in classic literature
A short period of exquisite felicity followed, and but a short one. Troubles soon arose.
It was another cry, but not quite like the one she had heard last night; it was only a short one, a fretful childish whine muffled by passing through walls.
I do not conceive that they could support a debating society for a single night: there would be nothing to dispute about; and were they to call a convention to take into consideration the state of the tribe, its session would be a remarkably short one. They showed this spirit of unanimity in every action of life; everything was done in concert and good fellowship.
Brooke to write a letter: his only difficulty was to write a short one, and his ideas in this case expanded over the three large pages and the inward foldings.
BUT IS A SHORT ONE, AND MAY BE FOUND OF IMPORTANCE IN THIS HISTORY
Uggug's triumph was a very short one: the Sub-Warden had returned, just in time to be a witness of his dear child's playfulness, and in another moment a skilfully-applied box on the ear had changed the grin of delight into a howl of pain.
The acquaintance between them had been a short one; and it had given no promise of ripening into friendship.
The taller man holds up the lantern and takes the gentleman by the feet, and the short one, that had pretended to be drunk, clutches hold of his head and cuts his throat, clean, with one stroke, swish!
A short account of myself, I believe, will be necessary, and it SHALL be a short one. On such a subject," sighing heavily, "can I have little temptation to be diffuse."
At such rate his cruise on Malaita would be a short one, when he would sail away with a full ship.
The parade in front of the stand was a short one. The Prince rode by in the merest canter.
And really if in the ingenuousness of youth, you open your heart so readily on the subject, I am afraid your career will be an extremely short one.'
T'other one said THIS warn't one of the short ones, he reckoned -- and then they laughed, and he said it over again, and they laughed again; then they waked up another fellow and told him, and laughed, but he didn't laugh; he ripped out something brisk, and said let him alone.
Besides, Miss Stacy says the short ones are much stronger and better.
And there would be the inevitable bad jams, short ones, it was true, but so bad that a mile an hour would require terrific effort.