cut corners

The phrase "cut corners" is commonly used to describe actions taken to save time, money, or effort, often resulting in reduced quality or safety.

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Definition

B2General

(informal)To do something in a quick and easy way by skipping necessary steps, often resulting in lower quality or safety.

Example

If you cut corners on the project, the final product won't be as good.
They cut corners to meet the deadline, but the work was subpar.

Similar

Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "cut corners":

cut across cut short cheap out cut it close cut it fine cut in cut back short corner cut out cop out cut and run turn the corner cut a deal cut below cut some shapes cut through cut above cut away cut into come short cut down cut off play the angles run short pull punches stop short