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cut out — 4 meanings

One phrase, 4 meanings. Learn them one at a time, then test yourself.

phrasal verb4 meanings
cut out
1stop doing or eating something (usually for health reasons)2remove something by cutting3stop working suddenly4be suited for

Meaning 1 · most common

stop doing or eating something (usually for health reasons)

  • cut out sth

To stop doing or eating something, especially because it is unhealthy or not good for you.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

After his doctor’s advice, Mark decided to cut out sugar from his diet.

A: You look great! Have you been working out?
B: Thanks! I actually just cut out junk food.

Common mistake

Not: I've cut out of eating chocolate.

Say: I've cut out chocolate. / I've cut chocolate out.

'Cut out + the thing' — no 'of eating'.

More on “stop doing or eating something (usually for health reasons)”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

To improve my concentration, I had to cut out using my phone late at night.

Tell it apart

I've cut out fizzy drinks.

  • stopped completely

I've cut down on fizzy drinks.

  • drink less, not none

Goes with

  • cut out + food/habit
Practice saying this
Next meaning: remove something by cutting

Meaning 2

remove something by cutting

  • cut out sth

To remove a part of something by cutting it away, often with scissors or a knife.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

She cut out a picture from the magazine for her project.

A: Why are there holes in your notebook?
B: I had to cut out some diagrams for my science homework.

Common mistake

Not: Cut out it carefully.

Say: Cut it out carefully.

With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'cut it out'.

More on “remove something by cutting”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

In art class, we were asked to cut out different shapes from colored paper to make a collage.

Tell it apart

She cut out a heart shape from the paper.

  • removed a piece by cutting

They cut down the tree.

  • felled it

Goes with

  • cut out + shape/image
Practice saying this
Next meaning: stop working suddenly

Meaning 3

stop working suddenly

  • the sound cut out
  • informal

If an engine, a machine or the sound on a call cuts out, it suddenly stops working, usually for a short time.

How oftenCommon
LevelB1
Used inMostly spoken

Examples

You cut out there — I only caught the first half of what you said.

The sound keeps cutting out on this film; it's really annoying.

More on “stop working suddenly”Another example · Tip

Another example

A: Why is it so cold in here?
B: The heating keeps cutting out in the mornings.

Practice saying this
Next meaning: be suited for

Meaning 4

be suited for

  • be cut out for sth

To have the right qualities or abilities for a particular job, activity, or situation, often used in the negative to suggest someone is not suitable.

How oftenCommon
LevelC1
Used inSpeech & writing

Examples

Despite her qualifications, she quickly realised she wasn't cut out for the pressures of corporate life.

A: I thought you wanted to be a surgeon?
B: I did, but after my first year in med school, I knew I wasn't cut out for it.

Common mistake

Not: She's not cut out to management.

Say: She's not cut out for management. / not cut out to be a manager.

Use 'cut out FOR + noun' or 'cut out TO BE + role'.

More on “be suited for”Another example · Tell it apart · Goes with · Tip

Another example

While many people aspire to leadership positions, not everyone is cut out for the demands and responsibilities these roles entail.

Tell it apart

He's not cut out for sales.

  • not suited to it

He was cut out of the photo.

  • removed from it

Goes with

  • (not) cut out for
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stop doing or eating something (usually for health reasons)remove something by cuttingstop working suddenlybe suited for