Cut corners
/kสt หkษหnษz/neutral, informalUK ยท US
What does โCut cornersโ mean?
Cut corners means to do something in the cheapest or quickest way, at the cost of quality.
Cutting corners is not the same as being efficient. The phrase implies that something necessary was skipped.
It is common in professional contexts and in consumer complaints.
When do people say it?
Almost always critical, about work that was rushed or underfunded.
โYou can see where they cut corners: the tiles don't line up.โ
Is it formal or informal?
Register: neutral, informal. It is most at home in both everyday conversation and professional writing. Most common in UK and US.
Where does it come from?
From taking a shortcut across a corner rather than following the road.
Origin confidence: Well documented
How do you say โCut cornersโ in other languages?
Related idioms
- Go the extra mile, To make an extra effort.
- Cost an arm and a leg, To be very expensive.
Last reviewed 2026-09-11