cutˈ-off noun

1. That which cuts off or shortens, eg a straighter road, a shorter channel cut across a bend of a river
2. A bend thus cut off
3. A device for shutting off steam, water, light, electricity, supply of cartridges in a magazine rifle, etc
4. The point at which something ceases to operate or apply (also adjective)
5. (in pl) shorts made by cutting off the legs of jeans just above the knee (informal)

cutˈ-out noun

1. The act of cutting out
2. Something which has been cut out
3. A safety device, eg for breaking an electric circuit

cutˈ-over adjective (US)

(of land) having had its timber removed

cut-priceˈ adjective

At a reduced rate

cutˈpurse noun (historical)

1. A person who stole by slitting purses worn at the belt
2. A pickpocket

cut-rateˈ adjective (esp N American)

Cut-price

cutˈ-throat noun

1. An assassin
2. A ruffian
3. A modification of bridge, etc for three players, each playing alone
4. An open razor

adjective

1. Murderous
2. (of competition) extremely tough, relentless
3. (of card games) for three players

cutting edge noun

A part or area (of an organization, branch of study, etc) that breaks new ground, effects change and development, etc (cutting-edgeˈ adjective)

cutting grass noun

A cane rat

cutting list noun (building)

A list giving dimensions of timber required for any given work

cutting room noun (cinematography)

A place where film is cut and edited

cutˈ-up noun (orig US)

1. A person who makes jokes or plays tricks
2. A literary collage, composed of cut-up and rearranged passages of prose or verse (also adjective)

cutˈwater noun

1. The forepart of a ship's prow
2. The angular edge of a bridge pier

cutˈwork noun

Openwork embroidery or appliqué (also adjective)

cutˈworm noun

A caterpillar, esp of the moth genus Agrotis, that feeds on the stems of young plants near ground level

a cut above

Something distinctly better (than)

cut across

1. To go or extend beyond the limits of
2. To take a shorter route across

cut a dash or figure

To have a striking appearance

cut a deal (chiefly N American)

To make a deal

cut along (informal)

To leave, go away quickly

cut and come again

Abundant supply, from the notion of cutting a slice, and returning at will for another

cut and cover

A method of constructing a tunnel by making an open cutting, arching it over, and covering in

cut and dry or cut and dried

1. Ready made
2. Fixed beforehand, decided in advance

cut and paste

1. (in the design of page layouts for newspapers, magazines, etc) a method of arranging areas of text, illustrations, etc by cutting and sticking down with paste
2. (in word processing, DTP, etc) a technique for moving blocks of text, etc

cut and run

To be off or escape quickly

cut and thrust

1. (in fencing) the use of the edges and the point of the weapon
2. Swift, shrewd and cleverly-calculated action or reaction, argument, etc (cut-and-thrustˈ adjective)

cut back

1. To prune close to the stem
2. To revert to a previous scene
3. To reduce (expenditure, etc)

cut both ways

(of a decision, action, situation, etc) to have or result in both advantages and disadvantages

cut corners

1. To turn corners by the quickest way, not keeping close to the edge of the road
2. To do something (eg a piece of work) with the minimum of effort and expenditure and therefore often imperfectly

cut dead

To refuse to recognize or acknowledge (another person)

cut down

1. To bring down by cutting
2. To reduce, curtail
3. To maim or kill

cut down to size

To cause (a person) to feel less important or to be less conceited

cut from the same cloth

Very similar in nature

cut in

1. To interpose
2. (of an electrical device) to begin working automatically
3. To deprive someone of a dancing partner
4. To intercept on the telephone
5. To manoeuvre into a line of traffic in front of an overtaken vehicle, etc, esp without adequate warning or indication
6. To come into a game by cutting a card
7. To give a share

cut it (slang)

To succeed or manage

cut it fine

To take risks by leaving insufficient margin for error

cut it out (informal)

To make an end of it, leave off

cut it too fat

To overdo a thing

cut loose

To break free from constraints

cut no ice see under ice

cut off

1. To sever
2. To isolate
3. To put to an end prematurely
4. To intercept
5. To stop
6. (of an electrical device) to stop working, usu automatically, esp as a safety measure
7. To disinherit

cut off with a shilling

1. To bequeath only a shilling
2. To disinherit

cut one's coat according to one's cloth

To adapt oneself to (esp financial) circumstances

cut one's losses

To have done with an unprofitable venture

cut one's stick

To take one's departure

cut one's teeth (on) (informal)

1. To gain experience (by means of)
2. To practise (on)

cut out

1. To shape
2. To contrive
3. To debar
4. To block (light, etc)
5. To supplant
6. To separate from a herd
7. To pass out of a game on cutting a card
8. To pass out of a line of traffic in order to overtake
9. To capture and carry off (a ship) as from a harbour, etc, by getting between her and the shore
10. (of an engine) suddenly to stop functioning

cut out for

Naturally fitted for

cut short

1. To abridge
2. To make short by cutting
3. To silence by interruption

cut teeth

To have teeth grow through the gums, as an infant

cut to the chase

To get to the point

cut up

1. To cut into pieces
2. To criticize severely
3. To turn out (well or ill) when divided into parts
4. (in passive) to be deeply distressed
5. To make jokes, play tricks or behave in a boisterous manner (N American)
6. To drive recklessly in front of (another vehicle) causing danger to it (slang)

cut up rough

To take something amiss, become difficult or angry

draw cuts (archaic)

To cast lots

make the cut (golf)

To qualify for the final round(s) of a tournament

miss the cut (golf)

To fail to qualify for the final round(s) of a tournament

short cut see under short