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]

---

Example Sentences

An Evri courier of 10 years told us their colleagues were "cutting corners" because they had to deliver so much in terms of volume to get a decent wage.

From BBC

“I was cutting corners,” he acknowledged, marking packages as delivered so he could leave work a few minutes early.

From Los Angeles Times

The NAO, which monitors how public money is spent, cited an "under-skilled workforce", businesses cutting corners and uncertainty over which standards to apply to which jobs, as some of the reasons for the substandard work.

From BBC

If you are anxious about your injury or fear that you won’t bounce back, you might not trust the process and end up cutting corners on the recovery plan.

From The Wall Street Journal

Many environmentalists and community members had worried the speed of the cleanup might lead to workers cutting corners or substandard workmanship.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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