Dictionary

cut back en · VERB

Meanings

1. (intransitive, transitive, with-on) To reduce the amount of (something).
   • The £3bn held by NR as a contingency fund to cover the impact of events brought about by extreme weather, which enables repairs following flooding and embankment failures, is also to be cut back. 2023 May 3, 'Industry Insider', “Funds for railway's upkeep”, in RAIL, number 982, page 84:
   • Some U.S. banks are cutting back their dealings with embassies and other foreign institutions in the United States because of the difficulty of complying with money-laundering rules, the Wall Street Journal reported. 2010 November 19, Elinor Comlay, "Banks cut back on trading with embassies: report", Reuters (wire) http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6AJ07J20101120
   • The organization has slimmed down and cut back on its education programming, but the Jazz Market remains a critical gathering place in Central City, and the orchestra is more tightly bonded than before. 2019 May 28, Giovanni Russonello, “After a Scandal, the New Orleans Jazz Market Rises Again”, in The New York Times:
   • The foliage is out of control and needs to be cut back.
2. (intransitive, with-on) To reduce spending.
   • We need to cut back heavily on office supplies. Is there another vendor we can use?
3. (intransitive, often, with-on) To reduce consumption.
   • He needs to cut back on doughnuts. He weighs 289 pounds!
   • I've cut back to one pack of cigarettes a week.
4. (intransitive) To perform the cutback maneuver.
   • I cut back again myself and went over the top of the wave. 2016, Michael Panckridge, Chasing the Break:
5. (intransitive, often, with to) To use a short cut; to move to a location to block someone; to cut someone off
   • He almost scored but the defender cut back to him.

Forms