Cut-Out, Cut Down, Cut Across, Cut Over

The term cut-out (or cutout) refers to any kind of item that is used to visually communicate or display something. Examples: "That theatre uses cutouts in their stage productions that are made of wood and not stone to simulate that old castle, instead of using real materials".

Our boss really cut down Steve at his birthday party last night, but he was only joking | foto: Profimedia.cz

Angličtina na iDNES.cz
VŠECHNY LEKCE ZDE

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Or "She got her photo taken with cut-outs of Presidents Clinton and Bush."
 
Cut Down/Cut Him or Her Down to Size
The term to cut down means to cut back on something, or to lower the amount of something, or to literally cut it down or reduce its physical size.

Examples: "Our boss really cut down Steve at his birthday party last night, but he was only joking" or "The two men in the Czech pub were trading cut downs and making fun of each other" or "She really cut that man down to size when she told him that she is married and that he better stop trying to ask her out for a date."
 
Cut Across/Cuts Across
When something cuts across something else, it can mean two things:

1) it affects other things, similar to the expression "cuts both ways" or 2) it means to physically take what is called a "shortcut" or to go across something.

Examples: "He didn't feel like walking all the way around the entire building, so he took a shortcut and walked across the grass instead when no one was looking" or "His visions and plans are so big, that they cut across all levels of society."
 
Cut Over
The term cut over essentially means to change to something else. It can be a location, or almost anything.

Example: "He was driving and noticed that the traffic was going slow so he cut over to the fast lane" or "He cut over to Channel 1 on his radio because Channel 2 wasn't working properly."

Now, I think I'll cut on out of here... :-)

                    Joke of the Day

Leonardo da CzEnglish says:

1. Politicians and diapers have one very important thing in common. Both of them should be changed regularly, and for the same reasons.
2. Anything that is "free" is automatically worth the price tyou paid for it.
3. Age doesn't always bring wisdom. Sometimes, age comes by itself without a partner.
4. Brain cells come and go, but fat cells stay forever.
5. If it is not broken, keep "fixing" it anyway until it is!
6. Just think of this fact: in two days tomorrow will be yesterday.
7. Never be afraid of heights, instead, fear only widths.
8. Indecision is always the key to flexibility.
9. Dijon vu -- it's the same mustard you've tasted before! :-)

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