cut through (something)

1. To slice something and penetrate its surface. I don't think that knife is sharp enough to cut through the fruit's tough rind. Here, these kitchen shears should cut through that plastic packaging. How am I supposed to cut through this steak with a butter knife, hmm?

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

3. To do something in a simple or straightforward way, bypassing a more complex alternative. Can you please cut through all this legalese and tell us exactly what the subpoena is saying? I need someone to cut through all this crap from the township and tell me exactly what is going on with our taxes. Can you help your Grandma and cut through these convoluted instructions? She just needs to be able to turn the TV on and off and change the channel.

4. To penetrate and be noticeable amidst something, often noise, confusion, etc. Luckily, the gym teacher's whistle cut through the din of yelling children. I think this article is unique enough to cut through the glut of essays out there. Even though that player was only an invitee, his consistently stellar defense helped him cut through the chaos of Spring Training and get an extended look.

5. To make a path through something. Our footprints cut a path through the freshly fallen snow. If a creek cuts through the backyard, I don't think that's the house for us—I don't want to deal with a constantly flooded basement. Look, Officer, the tire tracks cut through the mud over here too!

cut through something

to penetrate something by cutting; to slice through something. The worker cut through the steel door with a torch. Walter cut through the rind of the watermelon.

cut through

1. To penetrate or slice through something: He cut through the tough steak with a knife.

2. To avoid or bypass something complicated; circumvent something: Lets cut through the red tape and get this matter resolved.

3. To travel across some region, rather than around it: We cut through the field to get to school. The snow isn't deep here; let's cut through.

4. To create a passageway through something by cutting: Someone had cut a path through the woods.

5. To interrupt something: The judge's gavel cut through my objections.