Phrasal Verbs with CUT

Phrasal Verbs with CUT (with Clear Meanings & Examples)

The verb cut is small, sharp, and extremely busy in English. It appears in dozens of phrasal verbs, and many of them have nothing to do with knives, scissors, or anything physical at all.

We cut down on sugar, cut people off, cut through red tape, and sometimes someone rudely cuts in while we’re speaking. English can be a dangerous place. 😄

In this lesson, you’ll learn some of the most useful and common phrasal verbs with CUT, with clear meanings and natural example sentences. These are perfect for everyday English, writing, and Cambridge exams (B2 & C1).

Cut across

Meaning 1: To go straight across an area to save time

• If we cut across the fields, we’ll get to the airport faster.
• He cut across the park instead of following the main road.

Meaning 2: To affect many different groups, ideas, or categories

• The author’s new novel cuts across class, race, and religion.
• This problem cuts across political and cultural boundaries.

Cut away

Meaning: To remove something by cutting

• Bob cut away all the dead branches from the tree.
• The surgeon carefully cut away the damaged tissue.

Cut back on

Meaning: To reduce the amount of something (often for health, money, or lifestyle reasons)

• The doctor told me to cut back on red meat.
• I’m trying to cut back on caffeine and sugar.
• The government plans to cut back on pollution in the city centre.

Cut down on

Meaning: To reduce the amount, size, or frequency of something

(very similar to cut back on and often interchangeable)

• If you want to lose weight, you should cut down on sweets and fast food.
• She cut down on shopping, but still struggles to save money.

Cut in

Meaning 1: To interrupt someone who is speaking

• Peter was explaining his plan when Linda suddenly cut in.
• Sorry to cut in, but could I just say something?

Meaning 2: (In traffic) To move in front of another vehicle dangerously

• That lorry just cut in without signalling!
• A car cut in front of us and forced us to brake.

Cut off

Meaning 1: To stop the supply of something

• Our electricity was cut off because we didn’t pay the bill.
• The village was cut off by the flood.

Meaning 2: To stop someone while they are speaking

• He started explaining, but she cut him off.
• Don’t cut me off — I haven’t finished yet!

Cut out

Meaning 1: To stop eating, drinking, or doing something (usually for health or lifestyle reasons)

• You should cut out sugar and fizzy drinks.
• I’ve cut out smoking completely.

Meaning 2: To remove something using scissors, a knife, etc.

• She cut out the picture and stuck it in her notebook.
• Sandra cut her ex-husband out of the photo. 😄

Cut through

Meaning 1: To deal with something complicated in a direct and efficient way

• We need to cut through a lot of red tape to get permission.
• Let’s cut through the confusion and focus on the main problem.

Meaning 2: To go through somewhere using a shorter route

• He cut through the park on his way to work.
• We can cut through this street to avoid traffic.

Cut up

Meaning: To cut something into smaller pieces

• She cut up the vegetables and put them in the soup.
• He cut up the old shirt and used it as a cleaning cloth.

As you can see, CUT is far more than just a physical action. In English, it’s a powerful verb for talking about reducing things, stopping things, interrupting people, solving problems and taking shortcuts (both in life and in parks 😄)

If you master these phrasal verbs, your English will sound more natural, more flexible, and more confident — and no fingers will be harmed in the process.

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