Cut Corners – Meaning and Examples

Have you ever rushed through a task just to finish it faster? Maybe you skipped steps while cleaning, used cheap materials for a project, or didn’t double-check your work. In English, we say you cut corners! This idiom describes doing something in a quick, cheap, or lazy way—often to save time or money—but usually at the cost of quality.

What Does “Cut Corners” Mean?

“Cut corners” means to do something in the easiest, cheapest, or fastest way possible—often by skipping important steps. Think of it like walking diagonally across a street corner instead of following the sidewalk: it’s quicker, but not always safe or proper. The phrase isn’t about real corners; it’s about sacrificing quality for convenience.

When to Use It

Use this phrase in casual or neutral conversations when talking about work, school projects, repairs, cooking, or any situation where someone takes shortcuts. It often has a negative tone—suggesting the result might be sloppy, unsafe, or unreliable. You can use it with friends, coworkers, or family, but avoid it in formal writing unless you’re critiquing a process.

Example Sentences

• The builder cut corners, and now the roof leaks.
• If you cut corners on your homework, you won’t really learn the material.
• Don’t cut corners just to meet the deadline—quality matters!
• They cut corners to save money, but the product broke after one week.

Mini Dialogue

Alex: “Why did your cake collapse?”

Jamie: “I cut corners—I didn’t measure the ingredients properly.”

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Don’t use “cut corners” to describe efficient or smart planning. It only applies when shortcuts lead to poor results—not when someone works quickly but well.

❌ Don’t say: “She cut corners and finished the report perfectly in half the time.”
✅ Do say: “He cut corners on the report, so it was full of errors.”

Final Note

Now you know how to use “cut corners” in everyday English! It’s a useful phrase for talking about the risks of rushing or being careless. Keep using it thoughtfully, and you’ll sound like a natural speaker who values both speed—and quality!