Idiom B2

Cut corners

Do something poorly or cheaply to save time or money

Meaning

Cut corners — To do something poorly or cheaply in order to save time or money, usually by skipping important steps or ignoring required standards.

Meaning

When someone cuts corners, they find the quickest or cheapest way to complete a task, but in doing so they sacrifice quality, safety, or thoroughness. The idiom carries a negative connotation: it implies that shortcuts have been taken where they should not have been, and that the final result is inferior or potentially dangerous as a consequence.

The expression is widely used across everyday speech, journalism, and business communication. It is particularly common in contexts involving construction, manufacturing, food production, and financial practices, where reduced standards can have serious consequences. At B2 level, this idiom is considered a core piece of vocabulary for discussing work ethics and professional standards.

Origin & History

The phrase originates from the literal act of taking a shorter path by cutting across the corner of a road, field, or bend rather than following the proper route. A carriage driver, cyclist, or pedestrian who cut corners would shave distance off their journey, but risked going off the intended path. The figurative meaning — doing something incompletely or negligently to save effort — developed gradually through the 19th century as the phrase moved from physical navigation into everyday language about work and conduct.

By the early 20th century, the idiom was firmly established in British and American English with its modern sense. It began appearing in newspapers and business writing to describe unscrupulous cost-cutting, and its negative associations with shoddy workmanship have remained consistent ever since. The industrial era, with its emphasis on efficiency and mass production, gave the expression a natural home in discussions about factory conditions, building standards, and manufacturing quality.

Example Sentences

SentenceContext
The building collapsed because the builders cut corners on the foundations.Dangerous cost-cutting in construction
The new manager was under pressure to cut corners and deliver the project two weeks early.Workplace deadline pressure
You can tell this meal was thrown together quickly — they've clearly cut corners with the ingredients.Criticism of food quality

How to Use It

“Cut corners” is informal to semi-formal and fits naturally into spoken English as well as journalistic and business writing. It is typically used in a critical or disapproving tone: the speaker implies that whoever cut corners acted irresponsibly or dishonestly. You can use it to describe past behaviour (they cut corners), ongoing practice (the company cuts corners), or warn against it (don't cut corners). It collocates naturally with nouns like safety, quality, standards, and regulations.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

The contractor cut a corner on the wiring.

The contractor cut corners on the wiring. — The idiom is almost always plural; the singular “cut a corner” sounds unnatural and loses the idiomatic meaning.

They cutted corners to save money.

They cut corners to save money. — “Cut” is an irregular verb; “cutted” is not a standard past-tense form.

She cut corners on the report, so it was very good.

She cut corners on the report, so it was poorly written. — The idiom always implies a negative outcome; pairing it with a positive result creates a contradiction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cut corners” mean?
“Cut corners” means to do something poorly or cheaply by skipping important steps or ignoring required standards in order to save time or money. It always implies that quality, safety, or thoroughness has been compromised.
Where does the idiom “cut corners” come from?
The expression originates from the literal practice of taking a shorter route by cutting across the corner of a road or field rather than following the proper path. The figurative meaning — doing something negligently to save effort — developed during the 19th century and became firmly established in the early 20th century.
Can you give an example of “cut corners” in a sentence?
Here is an example: “The building collapsed because the builders cut corners on the foundations.” This illustrates how cutting corners on safety can have serious and dangerous consequences.
Is “cut corners” formal or informal?
“Cut corners” is informal to semi-formal. It is common in spoken English and appears frequently in journalism and business writing, particularly in discussions about safety standards, quality control, and professional conduct. It would generally be avoided in strictly formal academic writing.
What CEFR level is “cut corners”?
This idiom is typically introduced at B2 level. It is an upper-intermediate expression that appears across a wide range of spoken and written English contexts, and a good knowledge of it is expected of learners preparing for Cambridge B2 First or IELTS at band 6 and above.
Should it be “cut corners” or “cut a corner”?
Almost always “cut corners” (plural). The singular form “cut a corner” can be used in a literal, physical sense — for example, a driver cutting a corner on a bend — but the idiomatic meaning of doing something poorly or cheaply requires the plural: “they cut corners on the project.”
What idioms are similar to “cut corners”?
Similar expressions include take shortcuts, do a slapdash job, scrimp on something, and skimp on something. “Take shortcuts” is the closest in meaning, though it is slightly more neutral in tone. “Cut corners” always carries a stronger implication of negligence or wrongdoing.
How do I practise idioms like “cut corners”?
LexFizz's Flip Tiles, Find the Match, and Flash Cards exercises are excellent for practising English idioms in context. It also helps to write your own example sentences and to listen for the idiom in news programmes, business podcasts, and documentary films about industry or construction.
Can “cut corners” be used in writing?
Yes. The idiom appears regularly in newspaper articles, business reports, and opinion pieces, especially on topics such as construction safety, food standards, and corporate cost-cutting. It works well in informal and semi-formal writing. In strictly formal academic writing, a more neutral phrase such as “reduce quality standards” or “neglect due process” would normally be preferred.
Does “cut corners” mean the same thing in British and American English?
Yes. “Cut corners” is understood in both British and American English with exactly the same meaning: to do something poorly or cheaply by skipping important steps. The idiom is widely recognised across all major varieties of English and does not differ significantly between dialects.