phrasal verb🧩 phrasal verb

cut back on

to reduce consumption

What it means

To reduce the amount of something you consume, spend, or do. It is inseparable and is often used for habits like sugar, spending, screen time, or alcohol.

Examples

  • My doctor told me to cut back on salt and fatty foods.
  • We're cutting back on unnecessary spending to save for a house.
  • She's trying to cut back on coffee but it isn't easy.
  • The company has cut back on travel expenses since last year.

Where it comes from

An extension of literal 'cutting back' a plant (pruning it), in figurative use since the early 20th century. The version without 'on' ('cut back') means the same thing but sounds slightly more formal.

Related phrasal verbs

#get rid of#do away with#give up#use up

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