Cut Down: Meanings and Uses

Cards · 50

Reduce consumption of sugar

My doctor advised me to cut down on sugar to lower my risk of diabetes.

Reduce caffeine intake

I am trying to cut down on coffee because it makes me jittery in the afternoon.

Reduce smoking or tobacco use

He managed to cut down to just three cigarettes a day before quitting completely.

Reduce alcohol consumption

She decided to cut down on alcohol during the weekdays to sleep better.

Reduce overall spending or expenses

We need to cut down on unnecessary spending if we want to save for a house.

Reduce electricity and utility bills

Turning off lights when leaving a room helps cut down on electricity bills.

Reduce driving and fuel consumption

Carpooling with coworkers is an easy way to cut down on fuel costs.

Fell a tree with a chainsaw or axe

The lumberjacks had to cut down the dead pine tree before it fell on the cabin.

Remove an overgrown branch or bush

We cut down the overgrown bushes in the front yard to let in more sunlight.

Clear trees for safety reasons

The city council decided to cut down several diseased oaks along the avenue.

Shorten a garment or piece of clothing

She cut down an old pair of jeans to make denim shorts for the summer.

Shorten an essay or text for length

The editor told the journalist to cut down the article by two hundred words.

Trim a presentation or speech

I had to cut down my presentation so it would fit into the fifteen-minute slot.

Shorten a movie or video runtime

The director cut down the three-hour film to a brisk ninety minutes.

Humble someone arrogant (cut down to size)

His sharp critique in the meeting really cut the arrogant manager down to size.

Deflate someone's ego (cut down to size)

Failing the exam finally cut him down to size after weeks of boasting.

Kill or wound in combat or gunfire

Dozens of soldiers were cut down by machine-gun fire as they advanced.

Strike down someone by illness in their prime

The talented young musician was cut down by a sudden illness at age twenty-five.

Tackle an opponent hard in sports

The defender lunged forward and cut down the striker just outside the penalty box.

Reduce screen time

Parents are encouraging children to cut down on screen time before bedtime.

Minimize waste or single-use plastic

Bringing your own bags to the supermarket helps cut down on plastic waste.

Reduce meat consumption

Many families participate in Meatless Mondays to cut down on red meat.

Reduce travel time or commute

The new bypass highway will cut down travel time between the cities by half an hour.

Cut down on paperwork and bureaucracy

Digital submission forms have greatly cut down on paperwork for new applicants.

Cut down errors or mistakes in work

Double-checking your code can cut down on bugs before release.

Reduce salt in diet for blood pressure

Cutting down on salt helped him bring his blood pressure back to normal.

Trim curtains or fabric to fit

My mother cut down the long curtains so they would fit the bedroom window.

Chop down weeds or tall grass

He spent Saturday morning cutting down tall weeds behind the garage.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions

The treaty aims to cut down carbon emissions across major industrial sectors.

Cut down staff or workforce (layoffs)

Facing a recession, the firm had to cut down its workforce by ten percent.

Reduce waiting times for patients

Hiring extra nurses helped cut down waiting times in the emergency room.

Decrease fast food intake

I am trying to cook at home more often to cut down on takeout meals.

Shorten a book manuscript

The publisher asked the author to cut down the first three chapters.

Cut down trees for timber production

Logging companies cut down thousands of trees in this valley every year.

Reduce water usage during a drought

Residents were urged to cut down on garden watering during the dry spell.

Curtail unnecessary meetings at work

Our team decided to cut down on status meetings and use quick chat updates instead.

Reduce background noise in recordings

Using a directional microphone helps cut down on ambient noise.

Reorganize furniture to cut down clutter

Donating unused furniture really cut down on clutter in the living room.

Cut down a recipe's portion size

Since I live alone, I usually cut down recipes by half when cooking.

Cut down on idle gossip

The office manager told everyone to cut down on gossip during working hours.

Reduce friction or wear on machinery

Applying regular lubrication helps cut down on mechanical wear and tear.

Cut down someone verbally with sarcasm

Her cutting remark immediately cut him down in front of all his peers.

Fell a rotting branch overhanging a roof

We must cut down that dead limb before the winter storm brings it down.

Reduce dairy intake due to intolerance

She had to cut down on dairy after discovering a mild lactose intolerance.

Cut down working hours to avoid burnout

After experiencing severe exhaustion, he chose to cut down his weekly hours.

Reduce inventory to save warehouse space

The retailer cut down inventory to save money on storage fees.

Minimize air travel for environmental reasons

They chose to take trains instead of flying to cut down on their carbon footprint.

Shorten a dramatic play or script

The theater troupe cut down the second act to keep the pacing brisk.

Reduce junk mail and spam

Unsubscribing from newsletters will cut down on clutter in your inbox.

Lower production costs in manufacturing

Automating packaging steps helped the factory cut down overall production costs.