cut under
C1 neutral inseparable transitive
In simple words
To charge less money than someone else to get their customers, or to make a cut below the surface.
Literal meaning: To cut below the surface or below a given level.
Meanings
1 C1 neutral
To offer goods or services at a lower price than a competitor.
"The new supermarket chain cut under every local competitor to build its customer base quickly."
Grammar: inseparable
2 C1 neutral
To make a cut in a surface that goes below or beneath it.
"The sculptor cut under the marble slab to create the illusion of floating."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Less common than the standard verb 'undercut'. In business English, 'undercut' is strongly preferred. 'Cut under' is occasionally used in literal contexts for physical cutting below a surface.
Commonly used with
competitor rival price surface market rate
Forms
Base
cut under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts under
he/she/it
Past simple
cut under
yesterday
Past participle
cut under
have + pp
-ing form
cutting under
continuous
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