reverse. Let's say there's a major freeze and the U.S. apple crop is wiped out. Apples end up costing 2. each. You know eventually they'll drop back down to .50 each. If someone will you lend you apples today, and only cares you pay them back whenever, w/ apples, you borrow them today, and sell them at 2. each.

A year from now, buy em at .50 each, and repay the lender. When u end the trade, your actually buying the shares & returning them to broker. They charge u margin interest rates for as long as trade is open. I think that's an easier way to understand what shorting an equity actually means.