Phrasal Verb 'Cut'

We have 31 phrasal verb definitions related to 'Cut'.

• Cut across (2)
• Cut back (2)
• Cut back on (1)
• Cut down (4)
• Cut down on (1)
• Cut in (5)
• Cut it out (1)
• Cut off (2)
• Cut out (5)
• Cut out on (1)
• Cut through (3)
• Cut up (4)

Cut across

Meaning: Go across a place rather than around it to make the journey quicker

Example: It'll be quicker if we CUT ACROSS the park.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut across

Meaning: Affect people of different groups, classes, etc

Example: The issue CUTS ACROSS social backgrounds as it affects us all equally.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut back

Meaning: Reduce

Example: The firm CUT BACK production because sales were sluggish.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut back

Meaning: Remove branches from a plant or tree to encourage future growth

Example: We CUT the tree BACK every winter.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut back on

Meaning: Reduce expenditure

Example: The government has decided to CUT BACK ON spending on the armed forces.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut down

Meaning: Consume less

Example: I'm trying to CUT DOWN the amount of coffee I drink during the day.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut down

Meaning: Shoot

Example: A lot of soldiers were CUT DOWN by enemy fire as they stormed the airport.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut down

Meaning: Reduce a vertical thing to ground level by cutting

Example: The logger CUT the tree DOWN.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English
• Contributed By: BobK

Cut down

Meaning: Cut something from a high position

Example: After Christmas he didn't carefully detach all the decorations, he just CUT them all DOWN.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut down on

Meaning: Reduce

Example: Doctors advised her to CUT DOWN ON the amount of saturated fats in her diet.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut in

Meaning: Start functioning

Example: The fans CUT IN when the engine starts getting too hot.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Cut in

Meaning: Drive in front of another vehicle without warning

Example: A car CUT IN and nearly caused an accident.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Cut in

Meaning: Interrupt

Example: We were having a conversation when he came up and CUT IN.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Cut in

Meaning: Include someone in a deal that makes money

Example: We had to CUT the police IN on the deal to avoid trouble.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut in

Meaning: Mix fat and flour until the combine

Example: CUT the butter IN with the flour.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• American English

Cut it out

Meaning: Stop your unfair or unreasonable behaviour

Example: Will you two idiots CUT IT OUT and keep quiet.

Notes:

• Separable [obligatory]
• International English

Cut off

Meaning: Disconnect

Example: The telephone's been CUT OFF because we didn't pay the bill.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut off

Meaning: Isolate or make inaccessible

Example: The heavy snow has blocked many roads and CUT OFF a number of villages.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut out

Meaning: Exclude

Example: I'm CUTTING OUT salt from my diet.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut out

Meaning: When an engine or motor stops

Example: The car CUT OUT at the traffic lights just as they went green.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Cut out

Meaning: Cut a picture or similar from a magazine, etc

Example: I CUT some pictures OUT to use as visual aids.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English

Cut out

Meaning: Leave quickly

Example: We’d better CUT OUT, the security men are on the way.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• American English

Cut out

Meaning: Separate livestock from a group

Example: They CUT OUT three prime bulls from the herd.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• American English

Cut out on

Meaning: Let down, snub

Example: Although he'd promised to help, the star CUT OUT ON the charity when offered more money.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut through

Meaning: Deal quickly with a complex issue that is causing trouble

Example: She CUT THROUGH the bureaucracy that was holding us up and got the deal done.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut through

Meaning: Go through a place instead of going around it

Example: We CUT THROUGH the park even though it was closed.

Notes:

• Inseparable
• International English

Cut through

Meaning: Fail to get attention in the media

Example: If a news story does NOT CUT THROUGH, it fails to attract much attention because there are stories attracting more attention, regardless of the merits of the story.

Notes:

• Intransitive
• International English

Cut up

Meaning: Cut into smaller pieces

Example: After cutting the tree down, the logger CUT it UP into logs.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English
• Contributed By: BobK

Cut up

Meaning: Drive into a neighbouring lane, directly in front of another vehicle

Example: I was just driving onto the motorway slip-road, when a red Mini CUT me UP and I had to brake suddenly to avoid an accident.

Notes:

• Separable [obligatory]
• International English

Cut up

Meaning: Upset

Example: Her reaction really CUT me UP.

Notes:

• Separable [obligatory]
• International English

Cut up

Meaning: Have a lot of small injuries

Example: I CUT my hand UP when I broke the glass.

Notes:

• Separable [optional]
• International English