in short supply

Prepositional phrase

scarce, or difficult to find, or buy.

Japanese Meaning

不足している / 品薄な / 手に入りにくい / 希少な

During the drought, clean drinking water was in short supply across the region.

干ばつの間、地域全体で安全な飲料水が不足していた。

Sense（1）

scarce, or difficult to find, or buy.

But that would require imagination - something in short supply in the Treasury.