be cutting it fine

be cutting it fine

To be doing something with a very narrow margin for error or deviation. Having only $20 in your bank account is cutting it fine, if you ask me. We'll be cutting it fine, but we should get there just before the movie starts. Why did you only order 50 of these? That's cutting it fine, don't you think?

See also: cutting, fine

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

be cutting it fine

or

be cutting it close

If you are cutting it fine or cutting it close, you only leave yourself just enough time to do something. Could we leave as late as five o'clock or would that be cutting it fine? They didn't plan to get it to us until six o' clock, and that's cutting it a little close.

See also: cutting, fine

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012