An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'cut out', with lots of examples in context
Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs!
'Cut out' is a useful English phrasal verb with a number of different meanings and uses. Do not fear though as despite these different meanings, many of them share a common theme. In this post, I will explain all of these different meanings for you, from removing something from its surroundings to excluding someone from something and dieting. Furthermore, I will give you lots of examples in context to help you understand and use them. So, without further ado, let's get started! Don't forget to leave a comment at the end 😊
CUT OUT: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 5 |
Past tense forms | Cut out / Cut out |
Separable? | Sometimes |
THE BASICS
Before we get started with the meanings of the phrasal verb 'cut out', let's first consider what the words 'cut' and 'out' mean on their own.
Firstly, we have our base verb 'to cut'. This common English verb is principally used to talk about using a sharp implement such as scissors or a knife, either to break the surface of something or to make something shorter by removing a part of it. Typically it is used with nouns such as hair, grass, bread and cake. It is one of those annoying irregular verbs that keeps the same form for both past tense forms, so it can be confusing for English learners.
I cut myself when I was chopping onions earlier.
The grass is so long, so I'm going to cut it later today.
She cut the sandwiches in half and gave them to her children
Other less frequently used meanings of 'to cut' are to stop something and to reduce something, among others.
Next, we have the particle 'out', which functions as the natural opposite of the word 'in' and carries the primary meaning of being in, or moving towards, an external place. In phrasal verb constructions 'out' can often add this idea of a movement towards an outside place, often in the form of removal or elimination. Furthermore, it can also convey the ideas of distribution, emergence, and revelation to them.
Now that we have covered the basics, let's move on to the meanings that are created when we put them together to form the phrasal verb 'cut out'....
MEANING 1: To remove something by cutting
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To extract, to remove, to detach |
Separable? | Yes |
For our first meaning of 'cut out', let's take a trip back to primary (elementary) school as this one is an activity that many of us engaged in at that young age and that is namely, to remove something from what it is attached to by cutting it.
In the example of the primary school, this action is typically by using a pair of scissors to remove a section or area from the surrounding paper to form a shape of some sort. Moving away from this example, this application of 'cut out' can be applied in many different areas of life where you need to remove something from what it is connected to by cutting it with a sharp implement or tool. Examples of these could be a medical removal of a lump or cyst that needs to be cut out of your body or a person who is a trapped in a car following an accident and who needs to be cut out by the fire brigade.
As you have probably realised, this first meaning is really just the literal combination of the two words 'cut' and 'out' together as it simply refers to cutting something and removing it from what it is in, or attached to.
We all drew pictures of stars, cut them out and stuck them on the wall.
The children made masks in class and made sure to cut out the eyes so that they could see whilst they were wearing them.
John had a wart on his hand which the doctor cut out for him.
The passengers all had to be cut out of the car wreckage, but thankfully none of them were injured.
BONUS INFORMATION You should also be aware that 'cutout' (alternative 'cut-out') also exists as a noun and refers to the finished shape or form of something once it has been cut out from the surface it was originally attached to. Although this can be something small like a simple shape, it is most commonly used in reference to something large, typically the shape of a person that is able to stand up vertically without support.
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MEANING 2: To delete something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To delete, to remove, to edit out, to cut |
Potential antonyms | To keep in, to include |
Separable? | Yes |
The second meaning of 'cut out' means to delete or remove something and is used specifically when talking about written texts, documents and books, as well as movies and tv shows.
To be clear, with this application we are not talking about deleting or removing the entire piece of work, but rather certain details, a section of it or, in the case of TV or movies, a scene or part of one.
Like with the first usage of 'cut out', we are again looking at the idea of the removal of something. In the case of the written texts and documents then the idea is simply to remove the words, sentences, paragraphs or sections so that they are no longer in the text....
If I were you, I would cut that section out as it could be confusing for the reader.
In the end, I decided to cut out the information about my first jobs from my resume.
Jenny read through her essay again and cut out a couple of unnecessary references.
In the case of TV and films, the idea is very much the same. The verb 'to cut' is often used in this field as a synonym of the verb 'to edit' and therefore if you edit a TV show or film and decide that some parts of it should no longer be in it or are not necessary, you can remove them, or cut them out.
The movie director decided to cut the sex scene out of the movie as it was not integral to the storyline.
Please can you cut that part out of the final edit!
Due to changing views amongst people, certain scenes from old movies have had to be cut out in order to avoid offending people.
MEANING 3: To exclude someone from something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To cut off, to exclude, to ostracise |
Separable? | Yes |
The next meaning of 'cut out' is another one that features the core idea of removal or separation and this time is about people, because 'to cut someone out' means to exclude someone from something.
This sometimes takes the form of exclusion from some sort of activity when you do not allow someone to take part in it, such as a card game, but I wouldn't use it so much here personally. Instead, I would perhaps use a phrasal verb like leave out or exclude here. Where I would use it however, would be when talking about relationships between people with whom you have blood ties, i.e. family members. If you cut a member of your family out of your life, then it means that you no longer have any contact with them and refuse to let them have any involvement in your life whatsoever.
My parents cut me out of their lives when I decided to marry someone who they didn't approve of.
I cut my brother out of my life many years and we have had no contact since.
I'm scared that my family will cut me out if they find out what I've done.
Lastly, if a relative has cut you out of their life, then it stands to reason that they will probably exclude you from their last will and testament too. If you're not sure what one of these is, it is a legal document that expresses your wishes about who receives your money, property and possessions after you die. When this happens, we use this application of 'cut out' to express it...
My mum has threatened to cut me out of her will.
Linda was shocked to learn that she had been cut out of her late father's will.
MEANING 4: To stop eating or doing something
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To omit |
Nouns that it is commonly used with | Alcohol, cigarettes, bread, dairy |
Separable? | Yes |
Next, we have our fourth meaning of 'cut out', which again involves the core meaning of removal that has been present throughout the meanings so far. This time, 'cut out' means to stop eating, drinking or doing something that we would normally eat or do on a regular basis. This is often in an attempt to resolve a problem or make some kind of positive life change.
Firstly, let's take the example of food and drink and imagine that you want to lose some weight. One way of doing this would be to consider the things that you normally eat and drink, i.e. the things that are in your diet. After examining this, you may decide that if you stop eating certain foods, such as chocolate or cake, you will lose weight. As a consequence, you decide to cut these fattening foodstuffs out of your diet.
I need to diet before my wedding, so I've decided to cut out bread, cheese and alcohol until the big day.
Cutting out high sugar food and drink can be very beneficial to your health.
Of course, this application is not just limited to food and drink as 'cut out' can also be applied to regular activities or habits such as smoking, sporting activities or even napping. I guess that the general idea is that you avoid doing or eating something for a positive reason, often to do with your physical or mental health.
I've had to cut out jogging recently as I have developed pain in my knees.
My doctor has advised me to cut out napping in the afternoon as it will help me to sleep better at night.
BONUS INFORMATION You should also be aware that 'cut out', or 'cut it out', is frequently used in the imperative form by native speakers, especially in American English, to tell someone to stop doing what they are doing.This doesn't tend to be used for regular activities that a person does but rather something that someone does in a particular moment which irritates or annoys the other person.
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MEANING 5: To temporarily stop functioning
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To stop |
Separable? | No |
For our fifth and final usage of 'cut out', we are going to move away from the central idea of removal as this next meaning is to temporarily stop functioning.
This usage is primarily used with machines, especially motors and engines, and is used specifically to describe when a motor is running and then suddenly stops, meaning that it needs to be restarted again. Oftentimes, this stopping happens due to a mechanical problem and therefore may reoccur multiple times, in which case we would then say that it "keeps on cutting out"...two phrasal verbs for the price of one! 😉
Aside from motors and engines, this application of 'cut out' can theoretically be used with any machines that are electrically or mechanically operated and which can stop suddenly stop working when we are using them.
The engine on my car kept on cutting out so I had to ring the mechanic for some advice on what to do.
There is something wrong with our television. It works fine for half an hour or so then it just cuts out and needs to be turned on again.
My lawnmower cut out halfway through mowing the lawn and it won't turn back on again, so now my lawn looks really weird.
One other time that 'cut out' is used in this sense is not with machines, but rather when talking about phone calls. If you are on the phone to someone and the phone line keeps getting interrupted or failing so that you only hear some of the words that the other person is saying, you can say that it is cutting out.
I'm struggling to hear what you're saying as the line keeps cutting out.
Say that again, you just cut out.
IDIOM ALERT
Before I end this post, there are a couple of common idioms that feature the phrasal verb 'cut out' that you should definitely have you in your active vocabulary. If you can memorise these and use them in your everyday English, it will definitely help you to sound more like a native speaker...
To not be cut out for something - We use this particular idiom when we are talking about careers and jobs that we cannot or should not do.This is because they are not natural to us, we do not not joy them or we do not possess the requisite skills.
I tried teaching in a school but I wasn't cut out for it. I hated the naughty children and the stress that came with the job. I'm much more suited to an office job.
The student left medical school in the first year as he realised that he just wasn't cut out to be a doctor.
To have your work cut out (for you) - This idiom is used when you have something very difficult or challenging to do. This could be when you have a lot of work to do in a short space of time or when the job that you have to do will require a lot of skill and patience.
The new government really has its work cut out for it to clean up the mess that the previous government left behind.
Ok, we have to prepare a 3-course meal for 50 guests by midday. We really have our work cut out for us!
We have now reached the end of this post and I just want to say thank you for clicking on my post and reading it. I hope that you've enjoyed it and have been able to learn something new.
Now it is YOUR turn. Can you think of a sentence yourself using 'cut out'. Write it in the comments section below if you can, or alternatively any comments, suggestions or feedback that you may have....don't be shy!!!
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