cut corners
/ˌkʌt ˈkɔːnəz/NEUTRAL · B2
Meaning
to save time or money at the expense of quality
Examples
- 1The builders cut corners on the roof, and it leaked within a year.
- 2We cannot cut corners on safety checks, however tight the deadline is.
- 3Maria refused to cut corners, even when the client wanted it by Friday.
- 4The garage cut corners with the repair, so the noise came straight back.
- 5Why do so many firms cut corners when nobody is inspecting them?
Grammar
Only cut changes form, and its past and participle are also cut. Keep corners plural with no article; what suffers follows on or with.
Similar in meaning
More idioms about work and careers
All 20 idioms and the topic quiz →burn the midnight oilto work very late into the nightred tapeofficial rules that make things slowthink outside the boxto think in a new and creative waypass the buckto make someone else deal with your responsibilitymove the goalpoststo change the rules unfairly once work has startedget your foot in the doorto get a first opportunity in an organisation or field
English Idioms400 idioms in 20 topics — with reviews that keep them from fading
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