1 C1 idiomatic informal
To move around or travel casually from place to place.
"He cuts about town on his vintage motorcycle, stopping wherever he pleases."
inseparable
cut about
C1 informal inseparable transitive/intransitive
To move around casually or travel about an area; also, to slash or cut something in multiple places.
In plain English
To move around from place to place, or to make cuts in different parts of something.
What does "cut about" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To make cuts or incisions in several places on something.
"The surgeon had to cut about the tissue quite a bit to locate the source of the problem."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut in various places or to move about by cutting a path.
Actually means
To move around from place to place, or to make cuts in different parts of something.
Usage tip
British and Australian informal. In the sense of moving around, it can imply travelling in a cool, stylish, or casual way. Also used literally to mean cutting in various places. Rare in American English.
Words that pair with "cut about"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
town city car motorbike area neighborhood
How to conjugate "cut about"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cut about
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts about
he/she/it
Past simple
cut about
yesterday
Past participle
cut about
have + pp
-ing form
cutting about
continuous
Hear "cut about" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cut about" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.