cut back — to reduce the amount of something, especially money spent or resources used
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to reduce the amount of something, especially money spent or resources used
Pronunciation (IPA): /kʌt bæk/
Example Sentences
- My mom told me to cut back on video games, so now I only play... 23 hours a week instead of 24.
- The government announced plans to cut back on public spending next year.
- After eating an entire pizza by myself, I decided to cut back on late-night snacks... starting tomorrow.
cut back
VERB[/kʌt bæk/]
to reduce the amount of something, especially money spent or resources used
The family had to cut back on spending after the bills piled up.
CUT(slice) + BACK(reduce) — by deciding to CUT(slice) the heavy pages away and scale the report BACK(reduce) to a small size, he successfully managed to cut back the printing cost.
Looking at the massive, unhealthy stack of chocolate boxes, he realized he ate too much snack and promised to strictly cut back.
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Cut back is a Germanic phrasal verb combining 'cut' (to sever) and 'back' (direction/reversal). Originally derived from horticultural terminology describing the pruning of plant branches by cutting them back, the term later expanded metaphorically to describe the reduction of costs, consumption, or activities.
Breakdown
cut (to sever or divide) + back (to the rear; reversal of action) = to reduce or diminish by cutting back, as in trimming branches or reducing expenditure.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom told me to cut back on video games, so now I only play... 23 hours a week instead of 24.”
“The government announced plans to cut back on public spending next year.”
“After eating an entire pizza by myself, I decided to cut back on late-night snacks... starting tomorrow.”
“Due to the economic downturn, many companies had to cut back on hiring.”
“The doctor advised him to cut back on salty food to lower his blood pressure.”
📚Related Words
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