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14 VERB If a child cuts classes or cuts school, they do not go to classes or to school when they are supposed to. [mainly AM ] □ [V n] Cutting school more than once in three months is a sign of trouble.

15 VERB If you tell someone to cut something, you are telling them in an irritated way to stop it. [mainly AM , INFORMAL , FEELINGS ] □ [V n] Why don't you just cut the crap and open the door.

16 N‑COUNT A cut of meat is a piece or type of meat which is cut in a particular way from the animal, or from a particular part of it. □  Use a cheap cut such as spare rib chops.

17 N‑SING [oft poss N ] Someone's cut of the profits or winnings from something, especially ones that have been obtained dishonestly, is their share. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] The lawyers, of course, take their cut of the little guy's winnings.

18 N‑COUNT A cut is a narrow valley which has been cut through a hill so that a road or railroad track can pass through. [AM ] in BRIT, use cutting 19 → see also cutting

20 PHRASE If you say that someone or something is a cut above other people or things of the same kind, you mean they are better than them. [INFORMAL ] □  Joan Smith's detective stories are a cut above the rest.

21 PHRASE If you say that a situation or solution is cut and dried , you mean that it is clear and definite. □  Unfortunately, things cannot be as cut and dried as many people would like. □  We are aiming for guidelines, not cut-and-dried answers.

22 PHRASE If you say that someone can't cut it , you mean that they do not have the qualities needed to do a task or cope with a situation. [INFORMAL ] □  He doesn't think English-born players can cut it abroad.

23 PHRASE If you talk about the cut and thrust of an activity, you are talking about the aspects of it that make it exciting and challenging. □  …cut-and-thrust debate between two declared adversaries.

24 PHRASE If you say that something cuts both ways , you mean that it can have two opposite effects, or can have both good and bad effects. □  This publicity cuts both ways. It focuses on us as well as on them.

25to cut something to the bone → see bone

26to cut corners → see corner

27to cut the mustard → see mustard

28to cut someone to the quick → see quick

29to cut a long story short → see story

30to cut your teeth on something → see tooth

▸  cut across PHRASAL VERB If an issue or problem cuts across the division between two or more groups of people, it affects or matters to people in all the groups. □ [V P n] The problem cuts across all socioeconomic lines and affects all age groups.

▸  cut back

1 PHRASAL VERB If you cut back something such as expenditure or cut back on it, you reduce it. □ [V P n] They will be concerned to cut back expenditure on unnecessary items. □ [V P + on ] The Government has cut back on defence spending. □ [V P ] We have been cutting back a bit: we did have thirteen horses, but now it's nine. [Also V n P ]

2 → see also cutback

▸  cut down

1 PHRASAL VERB If you cut down on something or cut down something, you use or do less of it. □ [V P + on ] He cut down on coffee and ate a balanced diet. □ [V P n] Car owners were asked to cut down travel. □ [V P ] If you spend more than your income, can you try to cut down? [Also V n P ]

2 PHRASAL VERB If you cut down a tree, you cut through its trunk so that it falls to the ground. □ [V P n] A vandal with a chainsaw cut down a tree. [Also V n P ]