Managed with spirit, and didn't have enough! (3,5)

I believe the answer is:

ran short

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'didn't have enough' is the definition.
(I've seen this in another clue)

'managed with spirit' is the wordplay.
'managed' becomes 'ran' (I've seen this in another clue).
'with spirit' becomes 'short' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'ran'+'short'='RAN SHORT'

'and' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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