What does "cut" mean?

In addition to the idioms beginning with cut, also see (cut) down to size; fish or cut bait; have one's work cut out; like a chicken with its head cut off; make (cut) a long story short; unkindest cut; you could cut it with a knife.

See cut in WNW Idioms

a cut above

Informal somewhat better than

cut across

to take a shorter course by going straight across as in a diagonal direction

cut a deal

â Slang

to reach an agreement; make a bargain

cut a figure

to attract attention
to make a (specified kind of) showing or impression

cut and dried

prepared or arranged beforehand; routine
lifeless; dull; boring

cut and run

Etymology: from the earlier naval phrase meaning âto cut the anchor cable and set sail immediatelyâ

to leave in haste

cut back

to make shorter by cutting off the end
to reduce, decrease, or discontinue (production, personnel, etc.)
â to go back to earlier narrative events, as in a novel or film
â to change direction suddenly, as in football

cut dead

Informal to snub completely

cut down

to cause to fall by cutting; fell
to kill, as by shooting
to reduce; lessen
Informal to humiliate, humble, etc. by criticizing sharply

cut down to size

Informal to reduce the prestige or importance of

cut in

1. to move in suddenly, as into a small opening in a lane of traffic
2. to move into another's place don't cut in line
  also cut into
to join in suddenly; break in on; interrupt
â to interrupt a couple dancing in order to dance with one of them
to blend (shortening) into flour, etc. as with a knife
to put or bring in; introduce
to make a connection, as into an electrical circuit
Informal to give a share to

cut it

Informal to do or perform satisfactorily or successfully

cut it fine

Informal

to make exact calculations
to make exact distinctions

cut it out

Informal to stop doing what one is doing

cut loose

â Informal to act or speak without self-control

cut no ice

Informal to make no impression

cut off

to separate from other parts by cutting; sever
to stop abruptly
to shut off
to break in on; interrupt
to intercept
to disinherit

cut out

to remove by cutting
to leave or take out; remove; omit; eliminate
Informal to eliminate and take the place of (a rival)
to make or form by or as by cutting
Informal to stop running: said of an engine
â Informal to discontinue; stop
Informal fit or suited by nature
Slang to leave abruptly

cut short

to stop abruptly before the end

cut one's teeth on

to learn or use at an early age

cut through

to penetrate or go through by cutting
to go straight through

cut to the chase

Etymology: < cut, , with reference to a scene involving a chase, as in a crime film

Informal to go directly to the essential element, without further preliminaries, delay, etc.

cut up

to cut into pieces
to inflict cuts or lacerations on
Informal
1. to criticize harshly
2. to cause to be dejected or distressed
â Slang to clown, joke, etc. to attract attention

make the cut

â Informal

to avoid elimination, as in a golf tournament

See cut in American Heritage Dictionary 4 Idioms

Learn more about cut

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» Cut abbreviations & acronyms

» cut medical definition

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What does "cut" mean?

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