cut corners

idiom

Formscuts corners, cutting corners, cut corners

2 meanings of cut corners

1
idiomintransitive
To do a job in a fast, careless way by skipping important steps.
Like painting a wall quickly and skipping the second coat: it looks finished but isn't.
The builders cut corners, and the roof started leaking within a year.
Don't cut corners when you study, or you'll miss the parts that matter.
Similarskimp
2
idiomintransitive
To drive across the inside of a turn instead of staying on the road, often to get ahead.
Like walking across the grass instead of following the path to save a few steps.
The racer cut corners to pull ahead of the other cars.
He cut corners on the back roads to beat the red lights.

Practice

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