verb phrase🎓 English idiom

cut corners

to do something cheaply or poorly to save time

What it means

To do something in the cheapest, quickest, or easiest way, often by ignoring rules or sacrificing quality. It usually carries a negative tone, implying carelessness or a poor result.

Examples

  • The builders cut corners, and now the roof is leaking.
  • We can't cut corners on safety, no matter how tight the budget is.
  • He cut corners on the recipe, and the cake came out flat.
  • Cutting corners now will only cause bigger problems later.

Where it comes from

From the literal act of taking a shortcut by cutting across the corner of a path or turn rather than following the longer proper route. The figurative sense was established by the 19th century.

Related idioms

#cut the mustard#up to scratch#go the extra mile#easier said than done

🎓 Think you know your idioms?

Take the English Idioms Test — 20 terms, instant result, no signup.

Take the test

Built by the team behind Deep In.