cutback
/ˈkʌtbæk/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈʌtbˌæk] /ˈkʌtbæk/ (ame, ipa) · [kˈʌtbˌæk] /ˈkət-ˌbak/ (ame, mw)
cutback — noun
- cutbacksingular
- cutbacksplural
1. a reduction in spending on a department, service, or project, made to save money
a reduction in spending on a department, service, or project, made to save money when the budget is limited
The closure of the Manchester printing factory is the company's biggest single cutback so far.
The school board announced cutbacks in sports programs after the budget proposal failed.
cutbacks in + [specific area]
Sirin worried that the research cutbacks would delay her cancer study by at least a year.
Ravindra's team faced a hiring cutback that left three engineering positions unfilled.
- reduction
broader — any decrease, not necessarily to save money
- cut
more direct and informal; often used interchangeably with cutback
- downsizing
specifically refers to reducing the size of a workforce or company
文法句型
cutback(s) + in + [noun phrase]
用法筆記
Most commonly appears in plural form (cutbacks) when referring to broad reductions across an organisation or sector. The singular form is often preceded by a modifier (budget cutback, staff cutback, spending cutback).
常見錯誤
2. an American football play where the ball carrier changes direction suddenly to r
an American football play where the ball carrier changes direction suddenly to run into open space away from the main action
The runner found open space for a cutback up the middle of the field and gained 12 yards.
The running back faked a run to the left, then made a cutback to the right into open space.
Coach Felix praised the running back for a sharp cutback that caught the defence completely off guard.
Daichi practised his cutback move until he could change direction without losing any speed.
文法句型
make a cutback
cutback + prepositional phrase (to/up/around)
用法筆記
This sense is specific to American football and is rarely used outside sports commentary. The noun is often modified by location phrases (cutback to the outside, cutback up the middle).
cutback — verb
- cutbackpresent simple I / you / we / they
- cutbacks3rd person singular
- cutbacking-ing form
- cutbackedpast simple
1. to make a plant, bush, or tree shorter or tidier by cutting off parts of its ste
to make a plant, bush, or tree shorter or tidier by cutting off parts of its stems or branches, usually to encourage new growth
Greta cut back the rose bushes before the first winter frost arrived.
cut back + [plant type] — separable phrasal verb
The gardener cut back the overgrown branches that were blocking the kitchen window.
Ada used sharp shears to cut back the dead stems from the lavender plants.
Mert cut back the hedge so the sunlight could reach the vegetables growing below.
- let grow
allowing the plant to develop freely without cutting
文法句型
cut back + [plant/vegetation]
cut + [plant] + back
用法筆記
The object can split the phrasal verb ('cut the branches back') or follow it ('cut back the branches'). Both orders are common. Passive use is frequent ('The roses were cut back in autumn').
常見錯誤
2. to move from the present moment in a film, television show, or book to an earlie
to move from the present moment in a film, television show, or book to an earlier scene or event in the story, usually to give the audience background information
The director cut back to a childhood scene to explain why the character feared water.
cut back to + [scene description] — intransitive
In the middle of the chase, the film cuts back to the detective at the police station an hour earlier.
Chidi noticed how the editor cut back to the same image three times to build suspense.
The screenwriter decided to cut back to the opening scene so that the ending would make more sense.
- cut forward
moving the story to a later time rather than an earlier one
文法句型
cut back to + [scene/time period]
用法筆記
Common in film criticism and screenwriting discussions. The subject is typically a director, editor, or the film itself. This sense is distinct from a 'flashback' — 'cutback' implies an editing decision while 'flashback' describes the narrative technique.
3. to reduce how much of something you consume, especially to improve your health,
to reduce how much of something you consume, especially to improve your health, budget, or lifestyle
After the restaurant lost customers, the owner had to cut back on staff hours.
cut back on + [resource] — intransitive phrasal verb
Lakan cut back on sugar after the doctor warned him about his blood test results.
Anna and her husband decided to cut back on eating out to save for a new house.
The city council voted to cut back on street lighting to reduce electricity costs.
Felix cut back on coffee and noticed that he slept much better at night.
- reduce
broader and more formal; does not carry the same informal tone
- scale back
similar meaning, often used for business operations or plans
- curb
implies restraint or control over an unwanted habit
文法句型
cut back on + [something consumed/spent]
用法筆記
This sense always takes the preposition 'on' before the noun or gerund phrase describing what is being reduced. Unlike the transitive verb sense (PRUNE), this usage is intransitive — the thing being reduced is the object of the preposition 'on', not a direct object.