French Phrase
Ouais, on est presque à court.
Meaning
The speaker is confirming, in a relaxed tone, that they are nearly out of something—money, time, supplies, etc. The phrase conveys a sense of mild urgency while staying informal.
When to use
Use it in everyday conversation with friends, family, or close colleagues when you want to point out that a resource is dwindling. Avoid it in formal emails, presentations, or when speaking to authority figures.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Ouais,onestpresqueàcourt.
Ouais
Informal affirmation equivalent to “yeah”. Used in casual spoken French, not in formal writing.
on
Indefinite pronoun that can mean “we”, “one”, or “people in general”. Here it means “we”.
est
Third‑person singular of the verb être (to be).
presque
Adverb meaning “almost”. It modifies the whole clause that follows.
à court
Idiomatic expression meaning “short of, running low”. It is usually followed by “de + noun”, but the noun can be omitted when context makes it clear.
court
Adjective “short”. In the idiom it does not refer to length but to scarcity.
🗨In Conversation
Tu as assez de papier pour l’imprimante ?
Do we have enough paper for the printer?
Ouais, on est presque à court.
Yeah, we’re almost out.
✕Common Mistakes
Ouais, on est presque à court.
Too informal for formal writing or professional emails; use “Oui” instead.
Ouais, on est presque à court de.
The noun after “de” must be present unless context makes it obvious; saying “on est presque à court de” without a noun sounds incomplete.
Ouais, on est presque court.
Do not use the verb “courir” (to run) here; “court” is part of the idiom meaning “short of”.
↔Alternatives
Oui, on est presque à court.
Yes, we’re almost out.
Ouais, on n’a plus beaucoup.
Yeah, we don’t have much left.
Ouais, on est presque à sec.
Yeah, we’re almost dry (out).
Cultural Tip
“Ouais” is a slangy way to say “yes” and is typical of younger speakers or informal settings. In a business meeting or a written report you’d replace it with “Oui”. The idiom “être à court (de…)” is very common; dropping the noun after “de” is natural when the missing item is obvious from the conversation.