"On short commons" is a phrase that means a person is experiencing a period of scarcity or lack of resources, particularly food. Some possible synonyms for this expression can be on a low diet, in straitened circumstances, hard up, facing austerity, or in a tight spot. Other related idioms that convey similar meanings are going without, living hand to mouth, strapped for cash, down to the bone, or feeling the pinch. These words and expressions outline a situation where someone is struggling to make ends meet or have enough to eat; it describes a precarious moment where resources are constrained or limited. It is a powerful sentiment that reminds us of the importance of sustainability and planning for the future.