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[cut back]{v.} 1. To change direction suddenly while going at full speed. •/The halfback started to his left, cut back to his right, and ran for a touchdown./ 2. To use fewer or use less. •/After the big job was finished, the builder cut back the number of men working for him./ •/The school employed forty teachers until a lower budget forced it to cut back./

[cut back]{v. phr.} To diminish; lessen; decrease (said of budgets). •/The state had to cut back on the university budget./

[cutback]{n.} An act of decreasing monetary sources. •/The cutback in military spending has caused many bases to be closed./

[cut both ways] or [cut two ways] {v. phr.} To have two effects; cause injury to both sides. •/People who gossip find it cuts both ways./

[cut corners]{v. phr.} 1. To take a short way; not go to each corner. •/He cut corners going home in a hurry./ 2. To save cost or effort; manage in a thrifty way; be saving. •/John’s father asked him to cut corners all he could in college./ 3. To do less than a very good job; do only what you must do on a job. •/He had cut corners in building his house, and it didn’t stand up well./

[cut down]{v.} To lessen; reduce; limit. •/Tom had to cut down expenses./ •/The doctor told Mr. Jones to cut down on smoking./

[cut down to size]{v. phr.}, {informal} To prove that someone is not as good as he thinks. •/The big boy told John he could beat him, but John was a good boxer and soon cut him down to size./ Syn.: PUT IN ONE’S PLACE.

[cut ice]{v. phr.}, {informal} To make a difference; make an impression; be accepted as important. — Usually used in negative, interrogative, or conditional sentences. •/When Frank had found a movie he liked, what others said cut no ice with him./ •/Jones is democratic; a man’s money or importance never cuts any ice with him./ •/Does comfort cut any ice with you?/ •/I don’t know if beauty in a woman cuts any ice with him./

[cut in]{v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in a line of cars, people, etc.; push in. •/After passing several cars, Fred cut in too soon and nearly caused an accident./ — Often used with "on". •/A car passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to brake quickly or she would have hit it./ •/The teacher beside the lunch line saw Pete cut in, and she sent him back to wait his turn./ 2. To stop a talk or program for a time; interrupt. •/While Mary and Jim were talking on the porch, Mary’s little brother cut in on them and began to tell about his fishing trip./ •/While we were watching the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who won the election./ Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on the shoulder and claim the partner. •/Mary was a good dancer and a boy could seldom finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./ — Often used with "on". •/At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she wanted to dance with Sally’s handsome date./ 4. To connect to an electrical circuit or to a machine. •/Harry threw the switch and cut in the motor./ •/The airplane pilot cut in a spare gas tank./ 5. {informal} To take in; include. •/When John’s friends got a big contract, they cut John in./