5 PHRASAL VERB If you cut someone off when they are speaking, you interrupt them and stop them from speaking. □ [V n P ] 'But, sir, I'm under orders to–' Clark cut him off. 'Don't argue with me.' [Also V P n]
6 → see also cut-off
7 to cut off your nose to spite your face → see nose
▸ cut out
1 PHRASAL VERB If you cut something out , you remove or separate it from what surrounds it using scissors or a knife. □ [V P n] Cut out the coupon and send those cheques off today. □ [V n P ] I cut it out and pinned it to my studio wall.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you cut out a part of a text, you do not print, publish, or broadcast that part, because to include it would make the text too long or unacceptable. □ [V P n] I listened to the programme and found they'd cut out all the interesting stuff. □ [V P n + from/of ] Her editors wanted her to cut out the poetry from her novel. [Also V n P ]
3 PHRASAL VERB To cut out something unnecessary or unwanted means to remove it completely from a situation. For example, if you cut out a particular type of food, you stop eating it, usually because it is bad for you. □ [V n P ] I've simply cut egg yolks out entirely. □ [V P n] A guilty plea cuts out the need for a long trial.
4 PHRASAL VERB If you tell someone to cut something out , you are telling them in an irritated way to stop it. [INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ [V n P ] Do yourself a favour, and cut that behaviour out. □ [V it P ] 'Cut it out, Chip,' I said. □ [V P n] He had better cut out the nonsense.
5 PHRASAL VERB If you cut someone out of an activity, you do not allow them to be involved in it. If you cut someone out of a will, you do not allow them to share in it. □ [V n P + of ] Environmentalists say this would cut them out of the debate over what to do with public lands. □ [V n P + of ] 'Cut her out of your will,' urged his nephew. □ [be V -ed P ] He felt that he was being cut out. [Also V P n]
6 PHRASAL VERB If an object cuts out the light, it is between you and the light so that you are in the dark. □ [V P n] The curtains were half drawn to cut out the sunlight. [Also V n P ]
7 PHRASAL VERB If an engine cuts out , it suddenly stops working. □ [V P ] The helicopter crash landed when one of its two engines cut out.
8 → see also cut out , cut-out
9 to have your work cut out → see work
▸ cut up
1 PHRASAL VERB If you cut something up , you cut it into several pieces. □ [V P n] He sits in his apartment cutting up magazines. □ [V n P ] Halve the tomatoes, then cut them up coarsely.
2 → see also cut up
3 PHRASAL VERB If one driver cuts another driver up , the first driver goes too close in front of the second one, for example after passing them. □ [V n P ] They were crossing from lane to lane, cutting everyone up. SYNONYMS cut VERB
1
carve: Andrew began to carve the chicken.
slice: Helen sliced the cake.
hack: Matthew desperately hacked through the leather.
chop: Visitors were set to work chopping wood.
pierce: Pierce the skin of the potato with a fork.
3
clip: I saw an old man out clipping his hedge.
mow: He continued to mow the lawn and do other routine chores.
trim: My friend trims my hair every eight weeks.
prune: You have to prune a bush if you want fruit.
8
reduce: Consumption is being reduced by 25 per cent.
lower: The Central Bank has lowered interest rates by 2 percent.
decrease: Gradually decrease the amount of vitamin C you are taking.
diminish: Universities are facing grave problems because of diminishing resources.
slash: Everyone agrees that subsidies have to be slashed.
cu t and drie d → see cut
cut|away /kʌ təwe I / (cutaways ) also cut-away
1 N‑COUNT In a film or video, a cutaway or a cutaway shot is a picture that shows something different from the main thing that is being shown. □ I asked the cameraman to give me some cutaways for the interviews.
2 N‑COUNT A cutaway or a cutaway coat or jacket is one which is cut diagonally from the front to the back, so that the back is longer. [AM ] in BRIT, use tailcoat 3 ADJ [ADJ n] A cutaway picture shows what something such as a machine looks like inside.
cut|back /kʌ tbæk/ (cutbacks ) also cut-back N‑COUNT A cutback is a reduction that is made in something. □ [+ in ] London Underground said it may have to axe 500 signalling jobs because of government cutbacks in its investment.
cute /kjuː t/ (cuter , cutest )
1 ADJ Something or someone that is cute is very pretty or attractive, or is intended to appear pretty or attractive. [INFORMAL ] □ Oh, look at that dog! He's so cute. □ …a cute little baby.