Idiom Topics

  • The Ubiquitous Essentials

    10
    • On the other hand
    • At the end of the day
    • In the long run
    • Bear in mind
    • A piece of cake
    • Keep an eye on
    • Out of the blue
    • Rule of thumb
    • So far, so good
    • Behind the scenes

  • Everyday Casual & Workplace

    10
    • Under the weather
    • Call it a day
    • Up in the air
    • Wrap your head around
    • Break the ice
    • Get out of hand
    • Go the extra mile
    • Touch base
    • Hit the nail on the head
    • Cut corners

  • Problem Solving & Interaction

    10
    • See eye to eye
    • Read between the lines
    • Take it with a grain of salt
    • Get the hang of it
    • Give the benefit of the doubt
    • The elephant in the room
    • Hit the ground running
    • Play it by ear
    • Bite the bullet
    • Sit on the fence

  • Decisions & Perspectives

    9
    • Jump on the bandwagon
    • Cross that bridge when we come to it
    • The best of both worlds
    • A blessing in disguise
    • Once in a blue moon
    • Pull someone's leg
    • Miss the boat
    • Better late than never
    • Get your act together

  • Colorful & Traditional

    10
    • Spill the beans
    • Let the cat out of the bag
    • Bite off more than you can chew
    • Go back to the drawing board
    • Barking up the wrong tree
    • Actions speak louder than words
    • A penny for your thoughts
    • Break a leg
    • Hit the sack
    • Beat around the bush

  • Academic & Formal Discourse

    10
    • Bear fruit
    • Pave the way
    • Shed light on
    • Go hand in hand
    • Tip the scales
    • Fly in the face of
    • Bring to the table
    • Turn a blind eye
    • Draw a blank
    • State of the art

  • Emotions & Reactions

    10
    • Over the moon
    • Down in the dumps
    • On edge
    • Blow off steam
    • Keep your cool
    • Drive someone up the wall
    • On cloud nine
    • A weight off my shoulders
    • At your wits' end
    • Thrilled to bits

  • Effort, Success, & Failure

    10
    • Start from scratch
    • Pass with flying colors
    • Fall flat
    • Go down the drain
    • Keep your head above water
    • Pay off
    • Throw in the towel
    • Make headway
    • Uphill battle
    • Back to square one

  • Time, Speed, & Urgency

    10
    • Beat the clock
    • At the eleventh hour
    • Around the clock
    • In the nick of time
    • Drag your feet
    • Time flies
    • Make up for lost time
    • Call time on
    • Ahead of the curve
    • On the spur of the moment

  • Resources, Money, & Value

    10
    • Make ends meet
    • Foot the bill
    • Break the bank
    • Tighten your belt
    • Bang for your buck
    • A drop in the ocean
    • Make a killing
    • On a shoestring budget
    • Worth your weight in gold
    • Pay top dollar

Cut corners

Learn the meaning, origin, and usage of the idiom "Cut corners" with five example sentences across different contexts. This idiom is part of ourEveryday Casual & Workplace collection for PTE and IELTS preparation.

Everyday Casual & Workplace

Cut corners

Cut corners
To do something in the easiest, fastest, or cheapest way, often by ignoring rules, safety, or quality standards.
History & Origin

The phrase originates from 19th-century hunting and driving. Hunters and carriage drivers discovered that instead of following the curved layout of a road or path around a bend, they could save time by traveling directly across the grass, literally 'cutting the corner' off their route.

Examples
Workplace Email

We cannot afford to cut corners on the software testing phase, as releasing a buggy app will ruin our reputation.

Casual Conversation

I tried to cut corners when making the cake by skipping the baking powder, and it turned out completely flat.

Academic Writing

Researchers who cut corners during data collection compromise the validity and reproducibility of their entire study.

News/Media

The investigation revealed that the construction firm routinely cut corners on safety materials to maximize their profit margins.

Formal Speech

To achieve long-term economic stability, the government must invest thoroughly rather than attempting to cut corners with temporary fixes.

Quiz
Which of the following sentences uses the idiom correctly?

A. She used a sharp pair of scissors to cut corners out of the construction paper for her art project.

B. The company decided to cut corners by hiring highly certified experts to oversee the delicate manufacturing process.

C. If you cut corners on your car's regular maintenance, you will likely end up paying for expensive repairs down the road.

D. He wanted to cut corners of the marathon route so he could enjoy looking at the beautiful scenery along the main track.