cut the deadwood out

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1. Lit. to prune away and remove the dead branches from a tree or bush. They cut a lot of the deadwood out to save the tree. You have to cut out the deadwood to make room for new growth.

2. Fig. to remove unproductive persons from employment. This company would be more profitable if management would cut out the deadwood. When we cut the deadwood out, all our departments will run more smoothly.

See also: cut, out

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cut teeth
cut teeth in
cut the cheese
Cut the comedy!
cut the cord
cut the crap
Cut the crap!
cut the deadwood out
cut the dust
cut the ground from under / feet
cut the ground out from under
cut the pie up
cut throat
cut through
cut through like a knife through butter

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