cut corners

Idioms  

1. Do something in the easiest or least expensive way; also, act illegally. For example, Cutting corners in production led to a definite loss in product quality, or If the accountant cuts corners the auditors are sure to find out. This term alludes to rounding a corner as closely as possible in order to shorten the distance traversed and/or save time. [Late 1800s]

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cut corners

In Kanazawa, workers dressed in full-body overalls haul large blocks of ice across the factory floor, before starting on the delicate work of carving perfect spheres, cubes and rectangular blocks with cut corners.

From Barron's ● Sep. 6, 2026

“Under intense pressure to go fast and beat the rest of your competition, it’s inevitable that companies will cut corners, and what we’re seeing is the result of cutting corners here,” Yoon said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 1, 2026

She avoided ChatGPT for much of her time at the University of Vermont because she didn’t want to cut corners.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026

When deadlines and bills are circling you, the temptation to cut corners is extremely powerful.

From Slate ● Mar. 28, 2026

Waitresses chafed at managers’ stinginess toward the customers; housecleaners resented the time constraints that sometimes made them cut corners; retail workers wanted the floor to be beautiful, not cluttered with excess stock as management required.

From "Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America" by Barbara Ehrenreich

Related Words

• collect
• conserve
• keep
• maintain
• manage
• spare
• store