cut-out
cut-out — 片語動詞
1. to stop working suddenly, especially when an engine, motor, or electrical device
熄火；停轉
機器突然停止運作
to stop working suddenly, especially when an engine, motor, or electrical device loses power
Noor's scooter cut out halfway up the hill in heavy rain.
Noor 的機車在大雨中騎到半山腰時突然熄火。
engine + cut out — sudden loss of power
The old freezer keeps cutting out during the hottest afternoons.
那台老舊冷凍櫃在最熱的午後常常突然停轉。
During the parade, the loudspeaker cut out for several seconds.
遊行途中，擴音器有幾秒鐘突然沒聲音了。
Benjamin turned back when the boat's engine cut out near shore.
Benjamin 的船引擎在靠近岸邊時突然熄火，所以他掉頭回去。
- start up
begin working again
- keep running
continue operating without stopping
文法句型
engine/machine + cuts out
用法筆記
Usually used for vehicles, machines, and electrical equipment. It often suggests an unexpected stop rather than a planned shutdown.
常見錯誤
2. to keep someone from joining, sharing in, or knowing about something
排除；撇開
不讓某人參與或分得
to keep someone from joining, sharing in, or knowing about something
Élise felt hurt when her cousins cut her out of the holiday plan.
當表親把她排除在假期計畫之外時，Élise 很受傷。
cut somebody out of something
The landlord tried to cut the older tenants out of the discussion.
房東試著把較年長的房客撇開，不讓他們參加討論。
After the merger, two local suppliers were cut out of the deal.
合併之後，兩家在地供應商被排除在這筆交易之外。
Lakan promised not to cut his sister out of the family photos.
Lakan 答應不會把妹妹排除在家族照片之外。
文法句型
cut somebody out of something
be cut out of something
用法筆記
Often followed by 'of' when someone loses a role, a share, or access. Distinguish from sense 5, which removes words or parts from a text rather than people from participation.
常見錯誤
3. to create a shape or object by cutting it from paper, cloth, or another material
剪成；剪出
靠剪裁做出形狀或物件
to create a shape or object by cutting it from paper, cloth, or another material
Tamar cut out a paper moon for the classroom window.
Tamar 為教室窗戶剪成了一個紙月亮。
cut out + shape from paper
The children cut out animal masks before the school play.
孩子們在學校話劇前剪出了動物面具。
Hassan used felt to cut out small stars for the banner.
Hassan 用毛氈剪出小星星來裝飾布條。
For the shop sign, Esme cut out neat letters from gold card.
為了店招，Esme 用金色厚卡紙剪成整齊的字母。
文法句型
cut out + object
cut out + shape
用法筆記
This sense focuses on making the new shape itself. Distinguish from sense 4, where the emphasis is on removing a part from a larger whole.
常見錯誤
4. to take a part from a larger piece by cutting around it, usually with scissors
剪下；剪掉
從較大材料中剪出一部分
to take a part from a larger piece by cutting around it, usually with scissors
Devika cut out the coupon from Sunday's newspaper before breakfast.
Devika 在早餐前先把星期天報紙上的折價券剪下來。
cut out + object + from + material
At lunch, Isabela cut out the recipe and pinned it above the sink.
吃午餐時，Isabela 把食譜剪下來，釘在水槽上方。
Hyun carefully cut out the damaged square from the carpet.
Hyun 小心地把地毯上受損的方塊剪掉。
Tamás cut the article out and saved it in a blue folder.
Tamás 把那篇文章剪下來，收進一個藍色資料夾。
文法句型
cut out + object
cut out + object + from + material
用法筆記
Use this sense when something already exists inside a bigger piece and is removed from it. Sense 3 is closer to making a new shape for a purpose.
常見錯誤
5. to remove words, scenes, or details from writing, speech, or recorded material
刪去；刪掉
從內容中移除文字或片段
to remove words, scenes, or details from writing, speech, or recorded material
Christopher cut out two paragraphs before sending the report to legal.
Christopher 把兩段文字刪去後，才把報告寄給法務。
editing use: cut out words or sections
The director cut the slow opening scene out after the preview.
試映後，導演把那段節奏太慢的開場戲刪掉了。
separable: cut the scene out
Meera asked the host to cut out the joke from the podcast.
Meera 請主持人把那個笑話從 podcast 裡刪去。
To save space, the editor cut out several repeated examples.
為了節省篇幅，編輯刪掉了幾個重複的例子。
文法句型
cut out + word/scene/detail
cut + object + out of + text
用法筆記
Often used for editing because something is too long, unnecessary, or unsuitable. Distinguish from sense 2, which excludes people rather than content.
常見錯誤
6. said when you want someone to stop an irritating action or remark immediately
住手；別鬧了
叫人立刻停止惱人的行為
said when you want someone to stop an irritating action or remark immediately
When Cole hid the remote again, his mother shouted, 'Cut it out!'
Cole 又把遙控器藏起來時，他媽媽大喊：「別鬧了！」
fixed expression: Cut it out!
Aoi laughed, then told her brother to cut it out.
Aoi 笑了一下，接著叫哥哥住手。
The teacher said, 'Cut it out,' when the back row kept whistling.
後排一直吹口哨時，老師說：「別鬧了。」
During dinner, Ayana told the twins to cut it out.
吃晚飯時，Ayana 叫那對雙胞胎住手。
- stop it
direct and very close in meaning
- knock it off
informal and slightly rougher
- quit it
informal, especially in North American speech
文法句型
Cut it out!
用法筆記
This is a spoken command and is almost always used as a set phrase. It sounds annoyed or impatient rather than polite.
常見錯誤
7. to block light, air, sound, or another thing from reaching a place
遮擋；擋住
把光線空氣等阻隔掉
to block light, air, sound, or another thing from reaching a place
The new curtains cut out the streetlights from Mara's bedroom.
新窗簾把街燈擋住了，不再照進 Mara 的臥室。
cut out + light
Thick foam under the door helps cut out hallway noise.
門下方的厚泡棉有助於遮擋走廊的噪音。
The visor cut out enough sun for the driver to see clearly.
遮陽板擋住了足夠的陽光，讓駕駛看得更清楚。
On windy nights, the taped plastic cut out some cold air.
有風的夜裡，貼上的塑膠布擋住了一些冷風。
- block
neutral and broad
- shut out
often stronger and more complete
- screen out
common for light or unwanted signals
文法句型
cut out + light/noise/air
用法筆記
Common with light, noise, and draughts. It suggests reducing or shutting something off by placing a barrier in the way.
常見錯誤
8. to stop having, using, or doing something, often because it is unhealthy or unne
戒掉；停用
完全停止某種食物習慣或花費
to stop having, using, or doing something, often because it is unhealthy or unnecessary
After the checkup, Maja cut out sugary drinks for a month.
健康檢查後，Maja 戒掉了含糖飲料一個月。
cut out + food or drink
The coach told the team to cut late-night gaming out.
教練叫全隊把熬夜打電玩這件事停掉。
separable with a long habit noun phrase
To save money, the family cut out weekly taxi rides.
為了省錢，這家人停用了每週搭計程車的習慣。
Lakshmi cut fried snacks out after her dentist warned her.
Lakshmi 看完牙醫後，就把油炸點心戒掉了。
- take up
start a habit or activity
- keep using
continue the behavior
文法句型
cut out + sugar
cut out + habit
cut + object + out
用法筆記
Often used for food, drink, habits, and spending. It usually means stopping completely, not simply doing less.
常見錯誤
cut-out — 名詞
1. a piece that has been cut from a larger sheet, board, or other object
剪下物；剪紙
從較大物件剪出的那一塊
a piece that has been cut from a larger sheet, board, or other object
A star-shaped cut-out hung in the bakery window all winter.
一個星形剪下物整個冬天都掛在麵包店櫥窗裡。
a cut-out of a shape
The designer taped a cardboard cut-out over the broken vent.
設計師把一塊紙板剪下物貼在壞掉的通風口上。
At the fair, children posed behind a giant astronaut cut-out.
園遊會上，孩子們站在巨大的太空人剪紙後面拍照。
The scrapbook had a neat cut-out of the old family house.
那本剪貼簿裡有一張老家房子的整齊剪下物。
- shape
broader and not always removed from a larger piece
- silhouette
specifically a dark profile shape
- clipping
often for a piece cut from a newspaper
文法句型
a cut-out
a cut-out of something
用法筆記
Often used for paper, card, wood, or picture shapes that have been cut free from something larger.
常見錯誤
2. a person or device that cuts shapes or sections free from a larger material
裁切器
負責把材料裁出形狀的人或機器
a person or device that cuts shapes or sections free from a larger material
In the factory, the laser cut-out handles thin metal sheets.
在工廠裡，那台雷射裁切器負責處理薄金屬板。
device meaning in manufacturing
The museum hired a skilled cut-out to prepare costume patterns.
博物館聘請了一位技術純熟的裁切師來準備戲服紙樣。
A computer-guided cut-out shaped every foam panel for the studio.
一台電腦導引的裁切器為錄音室裁出每一片泡棉板。
During repairs, the cut-out on line three needed a new blade.
維修期間，三號線上的那台裁切器需要換新刀片。
- cutter
more common general term
- cutting machine
clearer in modern technical English
文法句型
a cut-out on the machine
use a cut-out to shape
用法筆記
This is a specialised noun and is much rarer than sense 1. It usually appears in technical or production contexts.
常見錯誤
3. a go-between who secretly passes messages, money, or goods for other people
中間人
秘密代傳訊息或物品的人
a go-between who secretly passes messages, money, or goods for other people
The spy ring used a cut-out to pass notes between safe houses.
那個間諜圈利用一名中間人，在安全屋之間傳遞紙條。
act as a secret intermediary
Investigators learned that the charity worker was only a cut-out.
調查人員發現，那名慈善工作者其實只是個中間人。
To avoid direct contact, the group sent payments through a cut-out.
為了避免直接接觸，該組織透過中間人轉交款項。
The novel's villain trusted a cut-out to deliver the stolen file.
那本小說裡的反派信任一名中間人送去被偷的檔案。
- intermediary
neutral and broader
- go-between
common and slightly less secret
- courier
focuses on carrying items rather than shielding identities
文法句型
use a cut-out
act as a cut-out
用法筆記
Used in intelligence, crime, and political reporting for an intermediary who protects the main people from direct contact.
常見錯誤
4. a record album that is no longer being produced and is sold cheaply to clear rem
清倉唱片
停產後低價出清的唱片
a record album that is no longer being produced and is sold cheaply to clear remaining stock
At the market, Dylan found a jazz cut-out for three dollars.
在市集裡，Dylan 用三美元找到一張爵士清倉唱片。
music-store use
The shop filled one bin with old rock cut-outs from the warehouse.
那家店把倉庫裡舊的搖滾清倉唱片裝滿了一整箱。
Collectors sometimes ignore cut-outs because the sleeves look damaged.
有些收藏家會忽略清倉唱片，因為封套看起來有損傷。
Cole bought two soul cut-outs while browsing the discount racks.
Cole 逛折扣架時買了兩張靈魂樂清倉唱片。
- remaindered record
formal industry term
- discount album
clear modern explanation
- new release
a newly issued album
文法句型
a cut-out album
buy cut-outs cheaply
用法筆記
This is a specialist music-industry sense. Many cut-out albums have a notch, hole, or clipped corner to show they were remaindered stock.