Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'cut down on' to describe reducing the amount or frequency of a habit, expense, or consumption without stopping it entirely.
- Always use 'on' before the object (e.g., 'cut down on sugar').
- It is inseparable; you cannot put the object between the words.
- The verb 'cut' is irregular: cut (present), cut (past), cut (past participle).
Overview
cut down on は、その中でも特に「洗練された自己管理」や「意識的な行動変容」を表現する際に極めて重要な役割を果たします。cut down on は、単に「何かを減らす」という意味を超え、習慣、消費、あるいは特定の活動の頻度や量を「意識的に、段階的に抑制する」というニュアンスを含んでいます。日本語で言えば「控える」「節約する」「（健康のために）減らす」といった表現に近いですが、英語の cut down on には「自制心を持って、適度な量に調整する」というポジティブな、あるいは戦略的な響きがあります。reduce という単一の動詞だけでは表現しきれない「人間味のある文脈」や「生活感のあるニュアンス」を補完できるからです。例えば、医者から「塩分を控えてください」と言われた時、あるいは「最近SNSの使いすぎだから少し減らそう」と自分に言い聞かせる時、reduce は少し硬すぎます。一方、cut down on を使うことで、あなたの英語は一気に「こなれた」印象になり、ネイティブスピーカーと同じような直感的なコミュニケーションが可能になります。cut down on の構造を理解するためには、まず英語と日本語の根本的な構造の違いを意識する必要があります。日本語は「〜を（目的語）＋控える（動詞）」のように、助詞を使って役割を決めますが、英語の句動詞は「動詞＋副詞的辞（Particle）＋前置詞」というパーツの組み合わせで一つの意味を形成します。- 1
cut(動詞): 本来は「切る」という意味ですが、ここでは「（全体から一部を）切り取る」「削減する」というアクションを指します。 - 2
down(副詞的辞): 方向性を示します。ここでは「量を下げる」「低いレベルに持っていく」というイメージです。 - 3
on(前置詞): これが非常に重要です。このonは「〜に関して」「〜の対象において」というターゲットを特定する役割を果たします。日本語の「〜について（控える）」に近い感覚です。
cut down on sugar となり、この on が日本語の「〜を（控える）」というニュアンスを支えているのです。cut down on は「完全にやめる（stop / give up）」のではなく、「量を減らして継続する」というニュアンスが強いことも覚えておいてください。例えば、お酒を完全にやめるなら give up drinking ですが、毎晩の晩酌を週末だけにするなら cut down on drinking が最適です。この「中庸（Moderation）」の感覚こそが、この句動詞の核心です。cut down on の形を作るのは比較的シンプルですが、いくつか注意点があります。基本のパターンは以下の通りです。Subject + cut (変化形) + down + on + Object (名詞句 / 動名詞句)cut の変化です。cut は不規則動詞ですが、現在形・過去形・過去分詞形がすべて同じ cut です。そのため、文脈で時制を判断する必要があります。I, The government, We |cut (現在/過去), is cutting (進行形) |down |on |coffee, spending, working overtime |I need to cut down on caffeine.（カフェインを控える必要があります。）caffeineは名詞です。She is trying to cut down on checking her smartphone during work.（彼女は仕事中にスマホをチェックするのを減らそうとしています。）checkingは動名詞（-ing形）です。動作を減らす場合はこの形を使います。Last year, the company cut down on international business trips.（昨年、その会社は海外出張の数を減らしました。）- ここでは
cutは過去形として使われています。
turn it on のように目的語を間に挟むことができるもの（分離可能）もありますが、cut down on は分離不可能です。つまり、cut sugar down on と言うことはできず、常に cut down on + [something] の形を保ちます。cut down on を使う場面は多岐にわたりますが、主に以下の4つのカテゴリーでよく使われます。これらは、日本の皆さんが仕事やプライベートで英語を使う際にも非常に遭遇しやすいシチュエーションです。My doctor told me to cut down on salt intake.（医者に塩分の摂取量を控えるように言われました。）I'm trying to cut down on sweets, but it's hard when there's a convenience store nearby.（甘いものを控えようとしているのですが、近くにコンビニがあると難しいですね。）
We need to cut down on our utility bills this winter.（この冬は光熱費を節約する必要があります。）The startup had to cut down on marketing expenses to survive.（そのスタートアップは生き残るために広告費を削減しなければなりませんでした。）
To be more eco-friendly, we should cut down on single-use plastics.（より環境に優しくあるために、使い捨てプラスチックを減らすべきです。）Many people are cutting down on meat consumption to reduce their carbon footprint.（炭素足跡を減らすために、肉の消費を控える人が増えています。）
I've decided to cut down on social media usage to focus on my certification exam.（資格試験に集中するために、SNSの利用時間を減らすことに決めました。）The manager suggested cutting down on unnecessary meetings.（マネージャーは無駄な会議を減らすことを提案しました。）
cut down on を使うと、「努力してコントロールしている」というニュアンスが伝わります。単に lessen や decrease と言うよりも、個人の意志や組織の決定が背後にあることを感じさせる、非常に人間味のある言葉なのです。on の脱落cut down sugar と言ってしまいがちです。- Incorrect:
I need to cut down sugar. - Correct:
I need to cut down on sugar.
cut down だけだと「（木などを）切り倒す」という物理的な意味が強くなります。習慣や量を控える場合は、ターゲットを示す on が絶対に必要です。cut down (without on) との混同on がないと意味が変わります。例えば、公園の古い木を切り倒すのは cut down the trees です。また、cut down 自体で「（全体の数や量を）削減する」という意味で使われることもありますが、これはより一般的・抽象的な削減（例：人員削減 cut down the number of staff）を指し、個人の「習慣を控える」というニュアンスからは遠ざかります。cut down on は「量」や「頻度」が測定できるものに使います。感情や抽象的な概念には使えません。- Incorrect:
I want to cut down on my sadness.（悲しみを減らしたい。） - Correct:
I want to reduce my sadness.(あるいはovercomeなど)
cut down on は不自然です。同様に、「怒り」や「思い出」なども対象にはなりません。- Incorrect:
I cut down on smoking, so I don't smoke at all now. - Correct:
I gave up smoking, so I don't smoke at all now.
cut down on は「減らした」だけであり、まだゼロではないことを示唆します。完全にやめた場合は stop や give up を使いましょう。cut down on を比較してみましょう。状況に応じて使い分けるのがC1レベルの証です。cut down on | 意識的な抑制、習慣の改善、適度な削減。 | 日常会話、健康、個人的な目標、セミフォーマルなビジネス。 |reduce | 客観的、数値的、公的な削減。 | 公式レポート、学術論文、技術的な説明。 |cut back (on) | 予算やリソースの「切り詰め」。cut down on とほぼ同じだが、より「経済的・財政的」な響きが強い。 | 予算削減、経費節約、ビジネスの文脈。 |curtail | 権利、活動、支出などを「切り詰める」「制限する」。非常に硬い言葉。 | 法律、政治、公的な声明。 |give up | 完全にやめる、断念する。 | 禁煙、禁酒、趣味をやめる。 |cut down on vs cut back on の違い：cut down on は「不健康なものや過剰な習慣を減らす（健康志向）」に強く、cut back on は「予算や贅沢品を削って節約する（経済志向）」に少し寄っています。例えば、ダイエット中なら cut down on carbs、家計が苦しいなら cut back on dining out と言うのがより自然です。cut down on はビジネスメールで使っても失礼ではありませんか？reduce よりも親しみやすく、かつプロフェッショナルな印象を与えます。ただし、株主向けの正式な報告書や契約書などでは、よりフォーマルな reduce や curtail を選ぶのが無難です。people を持ってくることはできますか？cut down on the number of people I meet のように、the number of... を挟む必要があります。cut down on people と言うと、文脈によっては非常に恐ろしい（物理的に排除するような）意味に誤解される可能性があります。cut down on の反対語は何ですか？increase や step up、あるいは「（消費などを）増やす」という意味で ramp up などが使われます。習慣を増やす場合はシンプルに do more of... と言うことも多いです。cut down on を使った受動態は可能ですか？Expenses must be cut down on.）、非常に不自然で、ネイティブスピーカーはほとんど使いません。句動詞、特に3語からなるものは能動態で使うのが一般的です。受動態にしたい場合は、おとなしく Expenses must be reduced. と言うべきです。cut down on は、あなたの英語に「意志」と「節約」のニュアンスを吹き込む素晴らしい表現です。まずは、あなたが今日から「控えよう」と思っている身近な習慣を、この句動詞を使って英語で書き出してみてください。例えば、I will cut down on buying plastic-bottled drinks.（ペットボトルの飲み物を買うのを控えます）といった小さな目標から始めるのが、マスターへの近道です。頑張ってください！2. Negative Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
do not cut down on
|
don't cut down on
|
|
does not cut down on
|
doesn't cut down on
|
|
did not cut down on
|
didn't cut down on
|
|
have not cut down on
|
haven't cut down on
|
Conjugation of 'Cut down on'
| Tense | Subject | Form |
|---|---|---|
|
Present Simple
|
I/You/We/They
|
cut down on
|
|
Present Simple
|
He/She/It
|
cuts down on
|
|
Past Simple
|
All subjects
|
cut down on
|
|
Present Continuous
|
I
|
am cutting down on
|
|
Present Continuous
|
He/She/It
|
is cutting down on
|
|
Present Continuous
|
You/We/They
|
are cutting down on
|
|
Present Perfect
|
I/You/We/They
|
have cut down on
|
|
Future (Will)
|
All subjects
|
will cut down on
|
|
Gerund
|
N/A
|
cutting down on
|
Meanings
To consume or do less of something, typically for health, financial, or environmental reasons.
Health & Diet
Reducing intake of food, drink, or substances.
“The doctor told him to cut down on red meat.”
“She's cutting down on salt to lower her blood pressure.”
Financial/Budgetary
Reducing expenditures or the use of resources.
“We need to cut down on our monthly subscriptions.”
“The company is cutting down on travel expenses this year.”
Environmental/Abstract
Reducing waste, emissions, or time spent on activities.
“We must cut down on our carbon footprint.”
“I'm trying to cut down on the time I spend on social media.”
Reference Table
| 使用場面 | 目的語の形 | 動詞の時制 | 例文 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
健康・食事
|
名詞
|
現在
|
I need to cut down on sugar.
|
|
健康・食事
|
動名詞
|
現在
|
She's cutting down on eating fast food.
|
|
財政・支出
|
名詞
|
過去
|
We cut down on subscriptions last month.
|
|
時間管理
|
動名詞
|
現在完了
|
He has cut down on watching TV.
|
|
環境への取り組み
|
名詞
|
現在
|
They are trying to cut down on plastic.
|
|
一般的な習慣
|
名詞
|
未来
|
You will need to cut down on distractions.
|
フォーマル度スペクトル
It is advisable to reduce one's intake of refined sugars. (Dietary advice)
I'm trying to cut down on sugar. (Dietary advice)
I'm cutting back on the sweet stuff. (Dietary advice)
I'm ditching the sugar high. (Dietary advice)
レベル別の例文
I cut down on sweets.
I eat fewer sweets.
He cuts down on soda.
He drinks less soda.
Do you cut down on salt?
Do you eat less salt?
We cut down on TV.
We watch less TV.
I am trying to cut down on chocolate.
I am attempting to eat less chocolate.
She cut down on coffee last week.
She reduced her coffee intake last week.
They don't cut down on water.
They do not reduce their water use.
Can you cut down on the noise?
Can you be a bit quieter?
If you want to save money, you should cut down on eating out.
Reducing restaurant visits helps save money.
The government wants to cut down on pollution.
The authorities aim to reduce environmental damage.
I've been cutting down on my screen time lately.
I have been using my phone less recently.
It's hard to cut down on sugar when you love baking.
Reducing sugar is difficult for bakers.
The company had to cut down on travel expenses due to the recession.
Economic downturn forced a reduction in travel costs.
By cutting down on plastic, we can help the oceans.
Reducing plastic usage benefits marine life.
He's finally cutting down on his heavy workload.
He is reducing the amount of work he does.
Have they considered cutting down on their energy consumption?
Have they thought about using less energy?
We need to cut down on the bureaucratic hurdles that delay our projects.
We must reduce the administrative obstacles.
The report suggests cutting down on carbon emissions by 20% by next year.
The document proposes a 20% reduction in CO2.
I've decided to cut down on social commitments to focus on my thesis.
I am reducing my social life for my studies.
The city is cutting down on traffic congestion by improving public transit.
Better transport is reducing road jams.
The CEO's primary objective was to cut down on operational redundancies across all departments.
The goal was to eliminate unnecessary repeated tasks.
To mitigate the risk of burnout, she had to drastically cut down on her extracurricular obligations.
She reduced outside duties to avoid exhaustion.
The treaty aims to cut down on the proliferation of short-lived climate pollutants.
The agreement targets the reduction of specific pollutants.
He argued that cutting down on state intervention would stimulate market growth.
He claimed less government involvement would help the economy.
間違えやすい
Learners use 'cut down on' for trees or 'cut down' for habits.
They are almost identical in meaning.
Learners use 'cut down on' when they mean they stopped completely.
よくある間違い
I cut down sugar.
I cut down on sugar.
He cutted down on salt.
He cut down on salt.
I cut down on to eat cake.
I cut down on eating cake.
She cuts on sugar.
She cuts down on sugar.
I'm cutting down on the smoke.
I'm cutting down on smoking.
They cut down on their spendings.
They cut down on their spending.
Did you cutted down on coffee?
Did you cut down on coffee?
I cut sugar down on.
I cut down on sugar.
We need to cut down on the costs of living.
We need to cut down on the cost of living.
I'm cutting down on to use my car.
I'm cutting down on using my car.
The company cut down on its personnel.
The company cut down on its staff / reduced its personnel.
We must cut down on the tree.
We must cut down the tree.
He is cutting down on his commitments' amount.
He is cutting down on his commitments.
The policy aims to cut down on the poverty.
The policy aims to cut down on poverty.
文型パターン
I'm trying to cut down on ___.
The best way to cut down on ___ is to ___.
Unless we cut down on ___, we will face ___.
It is imperative that the company cuts down on ___ to ensure ___.
Real World Usage
You really need to cut down on saturated fats.
We must cut down on operational waste to stay competitive.
I'm cutting down on coffee, so no Starbucks for me today!
Cutting down on meat consumption is the best way to help the planet.
In my last role, I cut down on processing time by 15%.
Day 5 of cutting down on screen time! Feeling great.
「on」を忘れないで！
一度きりの行動には使わない
理由とセットで使う
丁寧な断り方
動名詞か名詞
Smart Tips
Use 'cut down on' to explain your dietary choices to the waiter.
Use 'cut down on' to sound constructive rather than negative.
Remember that 'on' is a preposition, and prepositions love gerunds!
Ask yourself: 'Am I naming the thing I'm reducing?' If yes, use 'on'.
発音
Linking
The 'n' in 'down' often links to the 'o' in 'on'.
Stress
The primary stress is usually on the verb 'cut', but 'down' also receives significant stress.
Falling intonation
I need to cut down on ↘ sugar.
A definitive statement about a habit.
暗記しよう
記憶術
Think of 'Cut Down On' as 'Cutting the size Down of what's On your plate.'
視覚的連想
Imagine a pair of scissors trimming the edges of a large habit (like a giant coffee cup) until it is a smaller, manageable size. You aren't throwing the cup away; you're just making it smaller.
Rhyme
To be healthy and stay strong, cut down on what is wrong.
Story
A man named Bill loved 10 donuts a day. His doctor said, 'Don't stop entirely, but cut down on them.' Now Bill eats 2 donuts and feels much better.
Word Web
チャレンジ
Write down three things you are currently trying to cut down on in your own life using the present continuous form.
文化メモ
Very common in the UK when discussing 'vices' like tea, biscuits, or alcohol.
Often used in the context of 'cutting down on gas' (petrol) or 'cutting down on calories'.
Used globally in business to sound less aggressive than 'slashing' or 'eliminating' costs.
The verb 'cut' comes from Middle English 'cutten'. The phrasal combination 'cut down' appeared in the 14th century meaning to fell trees. The addition of 'on' to mean reduction of consumption developed later, in the 19th century.
会話のきっかけ
Is there anything you're trying to cut down on right now?
How can a large city cut down on its carbon footprint?
Do you think it's better to cut down on a bad habit or cut it out completely?
If you had to cut down on one monthly expense, which would it be?
日記のテーマ
よくある間違い
Test Yourself
Sarah wants to ___ her social media usage.
Find and fix the mistake:
My New Year's resolution is to cut down snacks.
Choose the correct sentence:
Translate into English: 'Estoy intentando reducir mi consumo de café.'
Answer starts with: ["I...
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Score: /5
練習問題
8 exercisesI'm trying to cut down ___ caffeine.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
He is cutting down on to smoke.
I am eating less chocolate. (I am...)
You can separate 'cut' and 'down' with the object.
A: Would you like another beer? B: No thanks, I'm ___.
Select the item that does NOT fit.
1. Cut out, 2. Cut down on
Score: /8
Practice Bank
13 exercisesThe company needs to ___ waste if it wants to be more sustainable.
We should cut down our expenses.
Which sentence is grammatically correct?
Translate into English: 'El gobierno está intentando reducir la burocracia.'
Arrange these words into a coherent sentence:
Match the sentence beginnings with their appropriate endings.
If you want to be more productive, you really need to ___ distractions.
They were told to cut down their intake of fats.
Choose the sentence that is correctly phrased:
Translate into English: 'Deberías intentar reducir tu tiempo frente a la pantalla por la noche.'
Rearrange these words to make a grammatically correct sentence:
Match the person's goal with what they are cutting down on.
Many professionals are trying to ___ their work-related stress.
Score: /13
よくある質問 (8)
Yes, if the context is clear. For example, if someone offers you a cigarette, you can say `I'm cutting down.` You only need `on` if you name the object.
Both are correct and almost identical. `Cut back on` is slightly more common for financial budgets, while `cut down on` is more common for personal habits like diet.
It is `cut down on`. The verb `cut` does not change in the past tense. Example: `Yesterday, I cut down on my sugar intake.`
No, it is generally used for substances, habits, or expenses. You wouldn't say `I'm cutting down on my friends.` You would use `seeing my friends less.`
Yes, it is perfectly acceptable in business. However, in very formal academic writing, you might prefer `reduce` or `diminish`.
In English, when a one-syllable verb ends in consonant-vowel-consonant (c-u-t), we double the final consonant before adding `-ing`.
No. You must use the gerund: `cut down on drinking`. Prepositions like `on` are followed by nouns or gerunds, not infinitives.
`Cut down` is for physical objects (like trees). `Cut down on` is for abstract amounts or habits.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
reducir / bajar el consumo de
English requires two extra particles (down, on) whereas Spanish is a single verb.
réduire / diminuer
French lacks the 'directional' particle (down).
reduzieren / einschränken
German word order changes in subordinate clauses, unlike English phrasal verbs.
減らす (herasu)
Japanese uses particles like 'wo' for the object, but no equivalent to 'down on'.
يقلل من (yuqallil min)
Arabic does not have a 'down' equivalent in this phrase.
减少 (jiǎnshǎo)
Chinese has no prepositions that function like 'on' in this phrasal verb.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
関連動画
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