cut out

phrasal verb · adjective · cut-out noun

21 meanings of cut out

1
with scissorsphrasal verbtransitive
To cut a piece away from something, with scissors, a knife, or something like them.
We cut out paper hearts for Valentine's Day.
Can you help me cut out this picture from the magazine?
Similarremove, excise, clip
2
quit (habit)phrasal verbcolloquialtransitive
To stop doing or using something, or to keep away from it.
My doctor told me to cut out sugar.
Please cut out the noise while the baby is asleep.
Similarstop, quit, drop, eliminate
Note
3
leave outphrasal verbtransitive
To take something away or leave it out.
The director cut out the scary scene so kids could watch the movie.
Her uncle cut her out of his will after their fight.
Similareliminate, exclude, remove, bypass
Oppositeinclude
Note
4
go deadphrasal verbintransitive
To stop working or turn off, or to stop being heard on a phone call.
The lights cut out during the storm.
Sorry, you keep cutting out. Can you call me back?
Similarstall, die, fail
Note
5
suitedadjectiveidiomatic
Having the right qualities for a job or activity.
I'm just not cut out for city life.
Is she really cut out for such a tough job?
Similarsuited, fit, qualified
Oppositeunsuited, unfit
Note
6
paper shapenoun · cut-outcountable
A shape or piece cut from something, like paper.
She made a cut-out of a cat from an old cereal box.
The children glued paper cut-outs of stars onto the window.
7
life-size figurenoun · cut-outcountable
A flat, stiff picture that stands up by itself, often life-size and used in ads.
Fans lined up to take photos with a cut-out of the singer.
The movie theater was full of cardboard cut-outs of superheroes.
Note
8
push asidephrasal verbtransitive
To push someone out and take their place.
The new kid cut out all the other boys who liked Maya.
His little brother cut him out as Grandpa's favorite.
Similarsupplant, oust, displace, replace
Note
9
leave suddenlyphrasal verbintransitive
To leave a place quickly and without warning.
We cut out before the movie ended.
I have to cut out early today to pick up my son.
Similarleave, split
10
preparephrasal verbtransitive
To get something ready or arranged.
The new coach has his work cut out for him this season.
You'll have your work cut out cleaning this messy garage.
Note

11
holenoun · cut-outcountable
A hole or open space left where a piece has been cut away.
The box has a cut-out on each side so you can lift it.
Light shines through the round cut-outs in the lamp.
Similaropening, hole, aperture
Note
12
spy contactnoun · cut-outcountable
A trusted person in the middle who links two others, especially in spying.
The spy never met her boss and sent every message through a cut-out.
The cut-out passed the envelope to the agent in a busy café.
Similarintermediary, go-between, middleman
Note
13
shaped cookienoun · cut-outcountable
A cookie with a special shape, made with a cookie cutter.
The kids put pink icing on the heart-shaped cut-outs.
Grandma baked a cut-out for each of us, shaped like the first letter of our names.
14
safety switchnoun · cut-outcountable
A device that stops a current from flowing, usually an electric current.
When the motor got too hot, the cut-out stopped the power.
The heater has a cut-out that turns it off if it tips over.
Note
15
blockphrasal verbtransitive
To stop or catch something before it reaches the person or place it was going to.
The goalkeeper ran off his line to cut out the long pass.
She jumped up to cut out the throw and ran the other way with the ball.
Similarintercept
Note
16
clip artnoun · cut-outcountable
A ready-made picture that you can add to a page on a computer.
On the computer, I added a cut-out of a cake to the birthday card.
The program comes with hundreds of cut-outs you can drag onto your page.
Note
17
cattle sortingphrasal verbAustraliaNew ZealandUStransitive
To move one animal away from the rest of the herd.
The cowboy rode into the herd to cut out a sick cow.
Her horse knows how to cut out one calf from the group.
Similarseparate
Note
18
circuit switchnoun · cut-outcountable
A switch that sends electric current into another circuit, or makes a circuit shorter.
The telegraph operator moved the cut-out to send the current down another line.
Each station had a cut-out to switch its own machine out of the main circuit.
Note
19
cattle sortingnoun · cut-outUScountable
The job of moving a group of cattle away from the herd, or the place where they are kept.
The cut-out of the young steers took the whole morning.
The ranch hands drove the calves into the cut-out by the creek.
Note
20
seize a shipphrasal verbtransitive
To take a ship out of a harbor by getting between it and the shore.
Sailors rowed into the harbor at night to cut out an enemy ship.
The raiders tried to cut out the ship while its crew slept on shore.
Note
21
do jail timephrasal verbslangAustraliaintransitive
To spend time in jail instead of paying fines.
He had no money for the fines, so he cut out in jail for ten days.
The court gave her a choice: pay the money or cut out in jail.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From the verb cut out.