Phrasal verbs with cut
Do you know the most common phrasal verbs with cut in English speech? Register for free at the ABA English course to discover them along with many more verbs and expressions. Try our fun, practical, and effective teaching method and join over 30 million students who are learning English with us.
The verb cut means to cut and like many other verbs in English it is used to form phrasal verbs or compound verbs. We will see the definitions of cut back (which should not be confused with cutback/cut-back), cut down, cut in, cut off, and cut out and show you some sentences to see how they are used.
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Why it is essential to learn phrasal verbs with cut
Sentences and meanings of phrasal verbs with cut
Let’s take a closer look at the phrasal verbs of the verb cut we mentioned.
Meaning of some phrasal verbs with cut
Cut back: to reduce, to make cuts.
Cut down: to fell, to reduce.
Cut in: to interrupt.
Cut off: to isolate, to have the telephone cut off.
Cut out: to stop doing something, to stop working.
A very common sentence with cut back
The local government spent too much and now is cutting back. (The local government spent too much and now is making cuts).
An example with the phrasal verb cut off
My call to support was cut off before they solved my problem. (My call to support was cut off before they solved my problem).
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The different phrasal verbs with cut
The verb cut is very present in English speech due to the large number of phrasal verbs and expressions it can form.
Next, we share some of these phrasal verbs and their meanings:
- Cut across (to cross, to take a shortcut, to cover, to affect, to transcend).
This problem will cut across to the rest of the departments. (This problem will affect the rest of the departments).
- Cut away (to remove, to change the shot “on radio or TV”).
To repair this house, firstly, we would have to cut away all the wiring and replace it with new wires. (To repair this house, first, we would have to remove all the wiring and replace it with new cables).
- Cut up (sth) or cut (sth) up (to cut into pieces, to chop, to dice).
My mother is trying to cut the chicken up with a blunt knife. (My mother is trying to cut the chicken with a blunt knife).
- Cut (sb) up (to cut in, to get in “a vehicle, driver”).
That red car cut me up in the roadway and I had to stop the car suddenly. (That red car cut in on me on the highway and I had to stop the car suddenly).
Exercise on phrasal verbs with cut
Fill in the blanks by choosing the correct phrasal verb for each sentence: cut back / cut down / cut in / cut off / cut out / cut across / cut away / cut up (sth).
- My sister saw as her boyfriend was _________ their photos ___ into pieces.
- Roads were blocked due to the strong storm and we were completely _____ ____ from the village.
- My letter was too long, so I had to ___ it _____ a little bit.
- The anchorman was _________ by the ads as soon as he started to talk.
- I used to ____________ the park to get to my office earlier.
- He doesn’t stand me! He always ________ when I’m speaking.
- If we want to go on holidays, we should __________ on our daily expenses.
- The doctor advised me to _________ cigarettes.
Answers: 1. cutting … up, 2. cut off, 3. cut … down, 4. cut away, 5. cut across, 6. cuts in, 7. cut back, 8. cut out.
More expressions with the phrasal verb cut in English
Besides the different phrasal verbs with cut, in English you can hear very colloquial expressions with this verb:
- To cut in the line (to cut in line)
Look! That man is cutting in the line! (Look! That man is cutting in line!).
- To be cut out (to be made for…)
I’m not cut out to be a good runner. (I’m not made to be a good runner).
- Cut it out! (cut the crap)
Come on sweety! Cut it out! (Come on sweetie! Cut the crap!).
Other Phrasal Verbs:
