cut across

cut across (something)

1. To move across an area, often as a shortcut. I'm sick of all these kids cutting across my yard in order to get to the school down the street. We'll get there quicker if we cut across the park. If you're trying to get to the community center, you can just cut across the school parking lot.

2. To break through some figurative barrier. Because that senator's views really seem to cut across party lines, I think he'll be able to appeal to the most people as our presidential candidate. The government warned that the neighboring country's preparations of weaponry and troops cut across their longstanding treaty. You know, back in the '80s, Sue was able to cut across sexism in our industry to become the first female department head.

3. To pass through and divide something. A huge ravine cuts across that swath of land. Yeah, I don't think I want to buy a house that has a creek cutting across the backyard. You just know we'll get water in our basement when it rains. Ugh, a whole patch of weeds and wildflowers have cut across the area where I want to plant my garden.

See also: across, cut

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cut across something

 

1. . and cut across Lit. to travel across a particular area; to take a shortcut across a particular area. Please don't cut across the neighbor's yard anymore.

2. Fig. to reach beyond something; to embrace a wide variety; to slice across a figurative boundary or barrier. His teaching cut across all human cultures and races. This rule cuts across all social barriers.

See also: across, cut

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cut across

Go beyond, transcend, as in The new regulations cut across class lines. This figurative use of cut across, which literally means "run through" or "intersect," dates from the 1920s.

See also: across, cut

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cut across

v.

1. To travel across some region, rather than around it: We can get to the house faster if we just cut across the front lawn.

2. To affect or concern a number of different groups of persons or things: The issue of health care cuts across all social classes.

See also: across, cut

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.