How do you say “Cut corners” in French?

The English idiom 'cut corners' paints an image of rounding off sharp turns to save time or material, almost always at the expense of safety, thoroughness, or craftsmanship. In standard European French, speakers convey this exact idea with 'prendre des raccourcis' ('to take shortcuts'). Just like its English counterpart, this phrase smoothly transitions from physical navigation to metaphorical sloppiness or procedural corner-cutting in professional and personal contexts.

Depending on the specific nuance, French speakers also shift to more descriptive verbs. If the focus is explicitly financial, 'rogner sur les coûts' or 'rogner sur la qualité' ('paring down costs/quality') is preferred. If the outcome is simply rushed and shoddy, the verb 'bâcler' fits best. Notably, Canadian French preserves an almost literal mirror image of the English phrase with the everyday idiom 'tourner les coins ronds'.