cut (someone or something) to (someone or something)

To slice or chop something into a particular state (such as "shreds" or "bits"). Sharks cut their prey to shreds with their razor-sharp teeth. Kids, get away from the broken window—all that glass could cut you to ribbons! Ow! Filing all this paperwork is cutting my hands to pieces!

See also: cut, to

cut to (someone or something)

1. To swiftly undermine one's or an argument. As in the first usage, "to" is typically followed by a particular state, such as "shreds" or "bits." If you make this argument, an experienced lawyer will cut you to shreds. You better find another angle for your argument because an experienced lawyer will cut this one to bits. I'm not surprised Mom and Dad cut your argument to shreds. Listen, there's nothing you can say that will convince them to change your curfew to midnight.

2. In film, TV, or video editing, to abruptly interrupt a sequence in order to show something else. I was watching the football game when they cut to breaking news about the wildfire. Of course they cut to the president's address—they always preempt my soap operas with world events! I hate when networks suddenly cut to beeping tests of the emergency alert system.

See also: cut, to

cut someone or something to something

1. Lit. to chop or slice up someone or something, especially to bits or pieces. The chef cut the carrots to bite-size pieces. The lawn mower will cut you to bits if you get under it.

2. Fig. to destroy an argument; to destroy someone's argument. The lawyer heard her argument and cut her to bits. She cut the argument to pieces.

See also: cut, to

cut to someone or something

to shift the radio, movie, or television audience's attention abruptly to someone or something new. Suddenly, the engineer cut to the announcer. The technical director cut to a remote unit that was covering an accident. The camera cut to scenes of Atlanta burning.

See also: cut, to

See also:

References in periodicals archive

Excessive heat in the workpiece because of grinding heat causes the cut to close in, with resulting wheel pinching and/or breaking.

How to use hot-pressed cutoff wheels

If he hits 2 in the corner, as shown, he will cut to the basket and then out to the opposite corner, while 4 and 5 v-cut to replace the open spaces in front of them.

A patterned motion offense

The agency's 1994 Western Forest Health Initiative, which, identified salvage logging as one of the key ways to thin forests of dead, unhealthy, and "at-risk", trees, targeted about half the salvage cut to come from roadless areas, and early in his tenure, Chief Thomas made it clear that "that's where the timber is - we're going in." But because the rider leaves the Forest Service immune to almost all public appeal and environmental challenge, it has opened a wide door for abuse.

Dead wood

Hold the blade guard up when you start the cut to eliminate this problem.

Angle cuts with a circular saw: from cutting wide baseboard to framing a roof, these techniques make angle cuts easy and accurate

Replace the point whenever vacant, cut to the elbow, then spot up.

8), post 5 will curl-cut to the dotted line and seal the nearest defender, and opposite-wing 2 will cut to the basket.

Beating the zone defense by the rules

This is an easy cut to make with the curve-cutting snips shown, but making it with a straight-cutting snips would be a challenge.

Tin snips: tips and techniques for cutting sheet metal. (Using Tools)

By rotating the post a quarter turn after each cut, you can use the previous cut to guide the blade for the next cut.

Crafting posts * with your circular saw

Cut to fit your saw, it eliminates the need to measure each time you want to cut.

Methods for cutting

If you need a very clean edge, however, you'll have to rent a concrete saw with a diamond blade, which can cut to a depth of 4 in.

How to cut anything

* Always cut to the waste side of your line; that is, into the scrap piece rather than into the piece you'll be using.

Handsaws: still making the cut

Pellets cut to length by means of adjustable knives.

Pelletizers and dicers