short-circuit

Universal Words (also informal short) verb 1 to have a short circuit; to make sth have a short circuit: [V] The wires had short-circuited and burnt out. [also VN] 2 [VN] to succeed in doing sth more quickly than usual, without going through all the normal processes, which would take longer: The process of becoming a politician can be short-circuited if you are already a well-known public figure.