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Adam Makkai

[cut into]{v.} 1. To make less; reduce. •/The union made the company pay higher wages, which cut into the profits./ •/The other houses got old and shabby, and that cut into the value of his house./ •/At first Smith led in votes, but more votes came in and cut into his lead./ 2. To get into by cutting in. •/She heard the other women gossiping and cut into the talk./ •/While Bill was passing another car, a truck came around a curve heading for him, and Bill cut back into line quickly./

[cut loose]{v.} 1. To free from ties or connections, cut the fastenings of. •/The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its anchor./ Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2. {informal} To break away from control; get away and be free. •/The boy left home and cut loose from his parents' control./ 3. {informal} To behave freely or wildly. •/The men had come to the convention to have a good time, and they really cut loose./ •/When he got the news of his job promotion, Jack cut loose with a loud "Yippee!"/ Compare: LET GO(6).

[cut no ice]{v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; be insignificant. •/The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut no ice with this particular judge./

[cut off]{v.} 1. To separate or block. •/The flood cut the townspeople off from the rest of the world./ •/The woods cut off the view./ •/His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. To interrupt or stop. •/The television show was cut off by a special news report./ •/We were told to pay the bill or the water would be cut off./ 3. To end the life of; cause the death of. •/Disease cut Smith off in the best part of life./ 4. To give nothing to at death; leave out of a will. •/Jane married a man her father hated, and her father cut her off./ •/Frank’s uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5. To stop from operating; turn a switch to stop. •/The ship cut off its engines as it neared the dock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.

[cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face]{v. phr.} To suffer from an action intended originally to harm another person. •/In walking out and leaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his nose to spite his face, since no business wanted to hire him afterwards./

[cut offs]{n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts and usually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e.g., considered cool and elegant. •/Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./

[cut one’s eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

[cut one’s losses]{v. phr.} To stop spending time, money, or energy on unprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. •/"Just cut your losses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get on with the rest of your life."/

[cut one’s teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

[cut one’s throat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To spoil one’s chances; ruin a person. •/He cut his own throat by his carelessness./ •/The younger men in the company were cutting each other’s throats in their eagerness to win success./ •/John cut Freddie’s throat with Mary by telling her lies./