cut away
Remove by cutting
Literalmente: To slice in a direction moving away from the main body.
Em 15 segundos
- Removing unwanted parts using a sharp tool or blade.
- Commonly used in cooking, gardening, and DIY craft projects.
- Implies cleaning up or refining an object by slicing.
Significado
To remove something by slicing it off with a sharp tool. It is often used when you want to get rid of an unwanted or extra part of something.
Exemplos-chave
3 de 6Cooking dinner
You should cut away the fat from the steak before grilling it.
You should cut away the fat from the steak before grilling it.
Gardening on a weekend
I spent the morning cutting away the overgrown vines on the fence.
I spent the morning cutting away the overgrown vines on the fence.
In a professional kitchen
Please cut away the bruised parts of the apples for the pie.
Please cut away the bruised parts of the apples for the pie.
Contexto cultural
In Japanese culture, the concept of 'Mottainai' (regret over waste) means that 'cutting away' is done with extreme care. Only the absolutely necessary part is removed to avoid wasting the material. In American business culture, 'cutting away the fat' is a common metaphor for layoffs or budget cuts, reflecting a focus on lean, efficient operations. Gardening is a major part of British life. 'Cutting away' is often associated with the seasonal task of pruning, which is seen as a metaphor for patience and renewal. In French 'Haute Cuisine,' the act of 'cutting away' (parer) is a high art form. It's about achieving perfect geometric shapes and removing any imperfection.
The 'Separable' Rule
Always put pronouns in the middle. 'Cut it away' sounds natural; 'Cut away it' sounds like a mistake.
Don't use for people
Never say you 'cut away' a person from your life. Use 'cut off' or 'distanced myself from'.
Em 15 segundos
- Removing unwanted parts using a sharp tool or blade.
- Commonly used in cooking, gardening, and DIY craft projects.
- Implies cleaning up or refining an object by slicing.
What It Means
Cut away is all about removal. Imagine you are holding a knife or scissors. You see something that doesn't belong there. You slice it, and it falls off. That is cut away. It implies a clean, intentional separation. You aren't just cutting into something; you are making it disappear from the main object.
How To Use It
You use this phrase when dealing with physical objects. Think of cooking, gardening, or even DIY projects. It usually follows the pattern: cut away + [the bad part]. You can also say cut + [the bad part] + away. For example, "I cut away the dead leaves." It sounds active and purposeful. It’s like you’re cleaning up or refining something.
When To Use It
Use it in the kitchen when prepping meat or veggies. Use it in the garden when a plant looks messy. It’s also great for crafts or sewing. If you are editing a video, you can cut away to a different scene. This means the camera moves from one shot to another. It’s a very handy phrase for any task involving precision.
When NOT To Use It
Don't use it for abstract things like feelings. You don't cut away your sadness; you "get rid of" it. Also, don't use it if you are just making a small hole. Cut away implies the piece is completely gone. If you are cutting a piece of cake to eat it, you just "cut a slice." You only cut away the parts you don't want to eat, like a burnt edge.
Cultural Background
In English-speaking cultures, this phrase is tied to the idea of efficiency. We love "trimming the fat." This applies to cooking and business. It reflects a mindset of keeping only what is useful. It’s a very practical, hands-on expression. It suggests you are taking control and fixing a problem with your own hands.
Common Variations
You might hear trim away or slice away. These are very similar. Trim away sounds a bit more delicate. Slice away sounds faster or more aggressive. In film, a cutaway (one word) is a specific type of shot. It shows something else briefly to add detail. Don't get confused between the action and the film term!
Notas de uso
This is a neutral phrasal verb. It is safe to use in almost any context, from a casual conversation about cooking to a technical manual for machinery.
The 'Separable' Rule
Always put pronouns in the middle. 'Cut it away' sounds natural; 'Cut away it' sounds like a mistake.
Don't use for people
Never say you 'cut away' a person from your life. Use 'cut off' or 'distanced myself from'.
Think of 'Refinement'
Use this phrase when you want to sound like you are improving something by making it cleaner or smaller.
Exemplos
6You should cut away the fat from the steak before grilling it.
You should cut away the fat from the steak before grilling it.
Focuses on removing the unwanted part of the meat.
I spent the morning cutting away the overgrown vines on the fence.
I spent the morning cutting away the overgrown vines on the fence.
Describes cleaning up a messy garden.
Please cut away the bruised parts of the apples for the pie.
Please cut away the bruised parts of the apples for the pie.
Instructional and precise for food prep.
Just cut away the extra fabric and the cushion will fit perfectly!
Just cut away the extra fabric and the cushion will fit perfectly!
Giving helpful advice for a craft.
I accidentally cut away so much of the burnt toast that there's nothing left!
I accidentally cut away so much of the burnt toast that there's nothing left!
Using the phrase to describe an over-correction.
The surgeon had to cut away the damaged tissue to help the wound heal.
The surgeon had to cut away the damaged tissue to help the wound heal.
Formal and serious context regarding health.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'cut away'.
The gardener _______ the dead branches yesterday to help the tree grow.
The sentence is in the past tense ('yesterday'), and the past tense of 'cut' is 'cut'.
Which sentence uses the pronoun correctly?
I found some mold on the cheese, so I...
In separable phrasal verbs, the pronoun 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
Match the 'cut away' usage to the correct context.
The editor used a _______ to show the character's nervous hands.
In film editing, when used as a noun to describe a specific shot, it is usually written as one word: 'cutaway'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: This piece of wood is too long for the frame. B: Don't worry, I can just _______ the extra inch.
'Cut away' is used for removing an extra part from the end or edge.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Cut Away vs. Cut Out
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosThe gardener _______ the dead branches yesterday to help the tree grow.
The sentence is in the past tense ('yesterday'), and the past tense of 'cut' is 'cut'.
I found some mold on the cheese, so I...
In separable phrasal verbs, the pronoun 'it' must go between the verb and the particle.
The editor used a _______ to show the character's nervous hands.
In film editing, when used as a noun to describe a specific shot, it is usually written as one word: 'cutaway'.
A: This piece of wood is too long for the frame. B: Don't worry, I can just _______ the extra inch.
'Cut away' is used for removing an extra part from the end or edge.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasNot exactly. 'Cut off' is more abrupt and total (like cutting off a phone call). 'Cut away' is more about removing an unwanted part of a whole (like cutting away fat from meat).
Usually, we use 'cut off' or 'trim' for hair. You might use 'cut away' if you are removing a specific tangled or damaged section, but it's less common.
It's a drawing that shows the engine and interior by 'cutting away' the metal body of the car.
No. 'Cut' is the same in the past and present. 'Cutted' is always a mistake.
Yes! You can 'cut away' parts of an image in Photoshop or parts of a video in an editor.
Yes, it's neutral. However, 'reduce' or 'eliminate' might sound more professional in a very formal document.
Usually, it implies a sharp tool like a knife, scissors, or a scalpel, but it can be metaphorical (like 'cutting away' costs).
'Cut away' is from the outside/edges. 'Cut out' is from the inside/middle.
It refers to 'cutting' the film to move 'away' from the current scene to a different one.
Use two words for the verb ('I cut away the fat') and one word for the noun ('That was a nice cutaway').
Frases relacionadas
cut off
similarTo remove by cutting, but often more total or abrupt.
trim away
similarTo remove small amounts to make something neat.
cut out
contrastTo remove a shape from the inside of something.
pare down
builds onTo reduce something to its essential parts.
chip away
similarTo remove small pieces gradually.
