Meaning & use
cut corners
To do something in the easiest or cheapest way, often by ignoring rules or lowering quality.
See it in a sentence
The contractor cut corners on safety to finish the project faster.
Investigators found that the factory had cut corners on quality control for years.
A note on using this word
Cutting corners almost always carries a negative tone, implying that shortcuts led to lower quality or safety.
Words with a similar meaning
skimp
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cut corners”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.