Translation

• lit. many monks and not much gruel (idiom)
• fig. not enough to go around
• demand exceeds supply

Synonyms

• 一发千钧, 一触即发, 刀光剑影, 刀光血影, 剑拔弩张, 动魄惊心, 千钧一发, 吃紧, 如临大敌, 密锣紧鼓, 山雨欲来风满楼, 惊心动魄, 焦虑不安, 白热化, 磨刀霍霍, 箭在弦上, 紧张, 紧紧张张, 紧缺, 紧锣密鼓, 草木皆兵, 逼人, 风声鹤唳
• 不足, 供不应求, 欠缺, 相差, 粥少僧多, 绌, 贫, 贫乏, 阙如