cut back
phrasal verb·2 senses·particle back
Meanings
Reduce sharply, especially expenditure
Why “back”? Something wants to move forward or come out. You keep it back, so it stays behind a limit.
“They've cut back on travel costs.”
“The school cut back on printing.”
Reduce the amount of something, especially spending
Why “back”? You move back to make physical or emotional space.
“They cut back on staff.”
“The shop cut back on weekend hours.”
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“They've cut back on travel costs.” What does it mean?
Nearby in the meaning map
Sink In connects verbs by particle pattern, contrast pairs, and shared base verbs.
cut down
A contrast learners often mix up
Reduce the amount of something; Fell a tree by cutting at its base; Kill or seriously injure many people quickly
cut off
A contrast learners often mix up
Remove or separate something by cutting; Stop the supply of something like power, water or money; Interrupt someone while they are speaking; Isolate a place or person from others; End a phone call abruptly; Exclude someone from inheriting money
bite back
Same back pattern: holding
Stop yourself from saying something that you really want to say
choke back
Same back pattern: holding
Suppress an emotion welling up
die back
Same back pattern: distance
(of a plant) lose leaves and branches above ground while the roots survive
draw back
Same back pattern: distance
Move yourself away in hesitation
drive back
Same back pattern: distance
Force an attacker to retreat
drop back
Same back pattern: distance
Move to a position further behind
Tell it apart
Side-by-side comparisons with the verbs learners most often confuse for “cut back”.
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