There are many synonyms for the phrase "fall short," which means to fail to meet expectations or goals. Some common alternatives include "come up short," "miss the mark," "fall behind," "fail to reach," "underperform," "not measure up," and "fall below standard." Other possibilities include "fall beneath," "fall outside," "fall beneath expectations," and "fall shy of." Each of these synonyms can be used to describe a situation where someone or something has not achieved what was expected or needed, whether it is in the context of a performance, an academic result, or any other endeavor.