He cut at the chair leg carefully, trying not to remove too much.
•Dad cut away at the turkey and asked us what part we wanted.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
cut out something — cut out (something) to end or stop something. You should cut out eating ice cream and get more exercise. We cut out cable TV and have saved a lot of money. She wants to cut meat out of her diet altogether … New idioms dictionary
cut through something — cut through (something) to make clear something that has been made difficult to understand. She cut through all the political talk and outlined what was wrong and what could be done to fix it … New idioms dictionary
cut across something — cut across (something) to include many different groups. The appeal of these coffee places cuts across all social levels … New idioms dictionary
cut loose something — cut loose (someone/something) to get rid of someone or something that you control or own. We re cutting loose only those teachers whose work is below standard … New idioms dictionary
cut through something like a hot knife through butter — cut/go through (something) like a (hot) knife through butter to cut something very easily. A laser beam can cut through metal like a hot knife through butter … New idioms dictionary
cut through something like a knife through butter — cut/go through (something) like a (hot) knife through butter to cut something very easily. A laser beam can cut through metal like a hot knife through butter … New idioms dictionary
cut someone/something loose — free someone or something from something that holds or restricts them; untie he d cut loose the horses … Useful english dictionary
cut someone/something short — interrupt someone or something; bring an abrupt or premature end to something said or done Peter cut him short rudely … Useful english dictionary
cut someone/something off — 1 they cut off his finger: SEVER, chop off, hack off; amputate. 2 oil and gas supplies were cut off: DISCONTINUE, break off, disconnect, suspend; stop, end … Useful english dictionary
cut someone/something out — 1 cut out all the diseased wood: REMOVE, take out, excise, extract; snip out, clip out. 2 it s best to cut out alcohol altogether: GIVE UP, refrain from, abstain from, go without; informal quit, leave off, pack in, lay off, knock off … Useful english dictionary
cut someone/something down — 1 24 hectares of trees were cut down: FELL, chop down, hack down, saw down, hew. 2 he was cut down in his prime: KILL, slaughter, shoot down, mow down, gun down; … Useful english dictionary
