cut across

British  

verb

1. (intr) to be contrary to ordinary procedure or limitations

   opinion on European integration still cuts clean across party lines

2. to cross or traverse, making a shorter route

   she cut across the field quickly

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cut across Idioms  

1. Go beyond, transcend, as in The new regulations cut across class lines. This figurative use of cut across, which literally means “run through” or “intersect,” dates from the 1920s.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

cut across

Garbo and his colleagues were watching one of several major rifts that appeared likely to eventually cut across the entire ice tongue.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 4, 2026

The platform’s assets, consolidated from SK affiliates, cut across solar, onshore and offshore wind and fuel cells, covering key areas of renewable energy generation except hydrogen, KKR and SK Inc., said Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

We expected immigration positions to tie directly to political affiliation, but results cut across party lines, with 79% of Republicans, 88% of independents and 95% of Democrats in favor.

From Salon ● Jun. 28, 2026

The attack also cut across the federal government's broader effort to present Kashmir as stable and open to tourism.

From BBC ● Apr. 24, 2026

It would do so again tonight, and as the helicopter lifted him into the sky, its spotlight would cut across the campus.

From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely

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