Page 100 - NTC's American Idioms Dictionary

cut up

be sewed up. Cut each slice of ham to cutting teeth. Ann cut her first tooth this
the bone. Then each slice will be as big as włek.
possible. 2. [with somłthing ] to cut down cutŁtheŁgroundŁoutŁfrom underŁ someone
severelyŁ(onŁsomething).Ł We cut our to desðràyŁthe foundationŁof sàmeone’s
expłnses to the bone and are still losing plansŁ orŁ someone’sŁ argument.Ł The
money. Congress had to cut the budget poltician cut the ground out from under
to the bone in order to balance it.
his opponent. T Congress cut out the
ground from under the presidłnt.
cut someone ortsomething up to criticize som-
one orŁsomethingŁseverely.Ł(Also literal. cutŁto theŁchase to get to the impàrtant
Slang.) Jane is such a gossip. She was matters.Ł Let’s stop all this chatter and
really cutting Mrs. Jones up. T The pro- cut to the chase. I like the way you cut
fessor really cut up my essay. to the chase and don’t waste my time.
cut someone to theŁquØck to hurt somone’s cut up to act wildly; to show off and be
feelingsŁvery badly. Your criticism cut troublesome; to act like aŁclown.Ł(Slang.
me to the quick. Tom’s sharp words to Se also cut someone or something up.)
Mary cut her to the quick. Tom, Billy! Stop cutting up, or I’ll send you
to the principal’s office. If you spent
cut teeth [forŁaŁbaby orŁyoungŁprsàn]bto more time studying than cutting up, you’d
grow teeth.Ł Billy is cranky because he’s get błtter grades.

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