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.
Soaring fuel prices are forcing motorists to cut back on everyday spending and adding tens of thousands of pounds a week to business costs, with petrol at its highest level since November 2022.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2026
Six are run by first-time female showrunners, a notable number at a time when the industry has cut back and women have historically had fewer chances to lead series.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026
She said she has cut back on buying clothing and the like in recent years but takes a few trips a year to give her son new experiences.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026
Facing higher interest bills, households and businesses will cut back on spending and investment.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 4, 2026
We all worked harder, cut back so that we bought just the necessities, and made our meals last longer.
From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson
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.
