[cut in]{v.} 1. To force your way into a place between others in aline of cars, people, etc.; push in. •/After passing several cars, Fred cutin too soon and nearly caused an accident./ — Often used with "on". •/Acar passed Jean and cut in on her too close; she had to brake quickly or shewould have hit it./ •/The teacher beside the lunch line saw Pete cut in,and she sent him back to wait his turn./ 2. To stop a talk or program for atime; interrupt. •/While Mary and Jim were talking on the porch, Mary’slittle brother cut in on them and began to tell about his fishing trip./•/While we were watching the late show, an announcer cut in to tell who wonthe election./ Syn.: BREAK IN(2). 3. {informal} To tap a dancer on theshoulder and claim the partner. •/Mary was a good dancer and a boy couldseldom finish a dance with her; someone always cut in./ — Often used with"on". •/At the leap year dance, Jane cut in on Sally because she wanted todance with Sally’s handsome date./ 4. To connect to an electrical circuit orto a machine. •/Harry threw the switch and cut in the motor./ •/Theairplane pilot cut in a spare gas tank./ 5. {informal} To take in;include. •/When John’s friends got a big contract, they cut John in./

[cut into]{v.} 1. To make less; reduce. •/The union made the companypay higher wages, which cut into the profits./ •/The other houses got oldand shabby, and that cut into the value of his house./ •/At first Smith ledin votes, but more votes came in and cut into his lead./ 2. To get into bycutting in. •/She heard the other women gossiping and cut into the talk./•/While Bill was passing another car, a truck came around a curve heading forhim, and Bill cut back into line quickly./

[cut loose]{v.} 1. To free from ties or connections, cut thefastenings of. •/The thief hastily cut the boat loose from its anchor./Compare: LET LOOSE(1a). 2. {informal} To break away from control; get awayand be free. •/The boy left home and cut loose from his parents' control./3. {informal} To behave freely or wildly. •/The men had come to theconvention to have a good time, and they really cut loose./ •/When he gotthe news of his job promotion, Jack cut loose with a loud "Yippee!"/ Compare:LET GO(6).

[cut no ice]{v. phr.} To have no effect; achieve no result; beinsignificant. •/The fact that the accused is a millionaire will cut no icewith this particular judge./

[cut off]{v.} 1. To separate or block. •/The flood cut thetownspeople off from the rest of the world./ •/The woods cut off theview./ •/His rudeness cuts him off from friends he might have./ 2. Tointerrupt or stop. •/The television show was cut off by a special newsreport./ •/We were told to pay the bill or the water would be cut off./3. To end the life of; cause the death of. •/Disease cut Smith off in thebest part of life./ 4. To give nothing to at death; leave out of a will.•/Jane married a man her father hated, and her father cut her off./•/Frank’s uncle cut him off without a penny./ 5. To stop from operating;turn a switch to stop. •/The ship cut off its engines as it neared thedock./ Syn.: SHUT OFF, TURN OFF.

[cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face]{v. phr.} To suffer from anaction intended originally to harm another person. •/In walking out andleaving his employer in the lurch, John really cut off his nose to spite hisface, since no business wanted to hire him afterwards./

[cut offs]{n.}, {colloquial} Pants cut to the length of shorts andusually left unhemmed so as to look old and worn, e.g., considered cool andelegant. •/Jack always wears cut-offs during the summer./

[cut one’s eyeteeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

[cut one’s losses]{v. phr.} To stop spending time, money, or energy onunprofitable projects and concentrate on what goes well. •/"Just cut yourlosses, Jim," his father suggested, "and get on with the rest of your life."/

[cut one’s teeth on] See: CUT TEETH(2).

[cut one’s throat]{v. phr.}, {informal} To spoil one’s chances;ruin a person. •/He cut his own throat by his carelessness./ •/Theyounger men in the company were cutting each other’s throats in their eagernessto win success./ •/John cut Freddie’s throat with Mary by telling herlies./

[cut out(1)]{v.}, {slang} 1. To stop; quit. •/All right, now — let’s cut out the talking./ •/He was teasing the dog and Joe told him tocut it out./ Compare: BREAK UP(3). 2. To displace in favor. •/Tony cut Edout with Mary./ •/John cut out two or three other men in trying for abetter job./

[cut out(2)]{adj.} 1. Made ready; given for action; facing. •/Maryagreed to stay with her teacher’s children all day; she did not know what wascut out for her./ — Often used in the phrase "have one’s work cut out forone." •/If Mr. Perkins wants to become a senator, he has his work cut out furhim./ 2. Suited to; fitted for. •/Warren seemed to be cut out for the law.It was clear very early that Fred was cut out to he a doctor./

[cut rate(1)]{n.} A lower price; a price less than usual. •/Toys areon sale at the store for cut rates./

[cut-rate(2)]{adj.} Sold for a price lower than usual; selling cheapthings. •/If you buy cut-rate things, be sure they are good quality first./•/John’s brother bought a cut-rate bicycle at the second-hand store./•/There is a cut-rate drug-store on the corner./

[cut short]{v.} To stop or interrupt suddenly; end suddenly or toosoon. •/Rain cut short the ball game./ •/An auto accident cut short theman’s life./ •/When Dick began to tell about his summer vacation theteacher cut him short, saying "Tell us about that another time."/

[cut teeth]{v. phr.} 1. To have teeth grow out through the gums.•/The baby was cross because he was cutting teeth./ 2. or [cut eyeteeth] {informal} To learn something very early in life; gain experience;start by learning or doing. — Used with a possessive, usually used with "on".•/The professional ball player cut his teeth on a baseball bat in thesandlots./ •/Mr. Jones’s company is building the new Post Office in townbut Mr. Jones cut his eye teeth as a carpenter./

[cut the ground from under]{v. phr.}{informal} To make (someone)fail; upset the plans of; spoil the argument for (a person) in advance.•/Paul wanted to he captain but we cut the ground from under him by sayingthat Henry was the best player on the team./ •/Several workers applied forthe retiring foreman’s job, but the owner cut the ground from under them byhiring a foreman from another company./

[cut the mustard]{v. phr.}, {slang} To do well enough in whatneeds to be done; to succeed. •/His older brothers and sisters helped Maxthrough high school, but he couldn’t cut the mustard in college./

[cut-throat]{adj.} Severe; intense; unrelenting. •/There iscut-throat competition among the various software companies today./

[cut to pieces]{v. phr.} 1. To divide into small parts with somethingsharp; cut badly or completely. •/Baby has cut the newspaper to pieces withscissors./ 2. To destroy or defeat completely. •/The soldiers were cut topieces by the Indians./ •/When Dick showed his book report to his bigsister for correction, she cut it to pieces./