cut back
Idioms-
Shorten by cutting, prune, as in It's time we cut back these bushes . [1860s]
-
Reduce, decrease, as in They are going to cut back defense spending , or We have to cut back production . [c. 1940] Also see cut to the bone .
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He says he has had to cut back on other expenses and compares it to others paying for a car.
From BBC • May 16, 2026
They also argued that GLP-1 use was likelier to lead people to cut back on snacking more, as they save their appetites for dining out.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
EBay has also been trying to cut back while adapting to changes in the ways people shop.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
Older adults who cut back on dietary fat or reduced the amount of animal-based protein they consumed showed signs of becoming biologically younger, according to new research from the University of Sydney.
From Science Daily • May 12, 2026
Will Whitiker be able to cut back her hours at the hospital and spend more time with her family?
From "Class Matters" by The New York Times
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
