cut out
To cut away a piece, to stop something completely, or for a machine to suddenly stop working.
Meanings
To remove something from a larger piece by cutting around it.
"She cut out the recipe from the magazine and pinned it to the fridge."
To stop doing or consuming something, usually a habit.
"My doctor advised me to cut out processed food entirely."
For an engine or machine to stop working suddenly and unexpectedly.
"The engine cut out three times before we finally made it to the petrol station."
To be naturally suited or destined for a particular role or activity (usually in 'not cut out for').
"After a month in the army, he realized he simply wasn't cut out for military life."
"I'm not cut out for politics."
— Commonly attributed to Harry S. Truman; widely cited in political journalism as a sentiment expressed by politicians leaving office.
Very high-frequency phrasal verb with multiple distinct senses. 'Cut out for something' (meaning naturally suited) is a fixed idiom. The engine-stalling sense is common in everyday speech. 'Cut it out' is a fixed variant meaning 'stop it'.
Commonly used with
Forms
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