Is “on short notice” equal to “at short notice”?

Question

I just want to make sure the two phrases are the same meaning. Could you tell me?

Thank you and God bless you!

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

I think they are the same. Trying to use it in context and "on short notice" is easy, but "at short notice" sounds awkward.
"Sorry you got the message on short notice..."

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Asker's Comment:

Thank you very much

Answer 2

I dont think there is a phrase "on short notice" so the correct phrase would be "at short notice"

Answer 3

They are not quite the same.

Someone "on short notice" would have been pre-warned that they will be expected to do something "at short notice."

The classic circumstance will be how long there might be between a warship getting the order to sail and actually being able to leave harbour.
48 hrs notice to sail would let the crew go ashore locally, some engine maintenance to be done... provided the ship could be made ready to sail in two days.
But an hour's notice to sail, "on short notice" would require the crew on board, the engines fired up... being ready to execute an order "at short notice."

Answer 4

Yes, you are absolutely right they are the same phrase. Cool hal doesn't know what he is on about.

Answer 5

"Notice" means advance warning of some event. Although they broadly convey the same meaning I think there is a subtle difference between the two.

"On" short notice implies some element or notion of being on standby for a specific event that you expecting to happen at some point in the future although you don't quite know when.You will be told when at short notice.As in "The firm is on short notice that they may have to move office sometime soon"

"At" short notice implies that some event occured with little prior warning and which you were not specifically expecting to happen.As in "We were asked to move offices at short notice.We got the word on Thursday and had to complete the move by Monday"

Answer 6

I cannot immediately think of any circumstance in which I would use the phrase "on short notice"