1 A2 neutral
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."
separable
cut out
B1 neutral separable transitive/intransitive
To remove something by cutting; to stop doing something; for an engine or machine to stop working suddenly; or to be naturally suited for something.
In plain English
To cut away a piece, to stop something completely, or for a machine to suddenly stop working.
What does "cut out" mean?
4 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 neutral
To stop doing or consuming something, usually a habit.
"My doctor advised me to cut out processed food entirely."
separable
3 B1 idiomatic neutral
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."
inseparable
4 B2 idiomatic neutral
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.
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To use scissors or a blade to remove a shape from a larger piece of material.
Actually means
To cut away a piece, to stop something completely, or for a machine to suddenly stop working.
Usage tip
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'.
Words that pair with "cut out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
sugar middleman engine shape article smoking
How to conjugate "cut out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cut out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts out
he/she/it
Past simple
cut out
yesterday
Past participle
cut out
have + pp
-ing form
cutting out
continuous
Hear "cut out" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cut out" 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.