cut across
C1Neutral to Formal
Definition
Meaning
To go across an area directly, rather than following the established paths or roads.
To affect or be relevant to different groups, categories, or boundaries; to transcend usual divisions.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The phrasal verb is separable (e.g., 'cut a path across'). Figurative use is common in analytical and social contexts to describe issues that transcend traditional categories like age, class, or political affiliation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. American English might more readily use 'transcend' in formal writing for the figurative sense.
Connotations
Neutral in both. The literal sense suggests efficiency or directness; the figurative suggests unifying factors.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British English in political/social commentary. The literal sense is equally common in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
cut across + NP (e.g., cut across party lines)cut across + NP + to + INF (e.g., cut across the field to save time)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “cut across the grain (figurative: go against convention)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
"The new sustainability directive cuts across all departments, requiring coordinated action."
Academic
"The researcher argued that the phenomenon cuts across traditional disciplinary boundaries."
Everyday
"Let's just cut across the car park to get to the shop faster."
Technical
In geometry, a line cutting across a set of parallel lines creates corresponding angles.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The footpath cuts across the private land, creating a right of way.
- Her appeal cuts across the usual political allegiances.
American English
- We can cut across the parking lot to save five minutes.
- The healthcare debate cuts across party lines.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The children cut across the grass to get to the playground.
- To reach the station quickly, you can cut across the market square.
- Environmental concerns are an issue that cuts across all social classes.
- The novelist's work cuts across genres, blending historical fiction with speculative elements.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a pair of scissors (CUT) slicing a straight line ACROSS a piece of paper, ignoring the lines printed on it.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL/CATEGORICAL BOUNDARIES ARE PHYSICAL BARRIERS (that can be traversed).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate as 'разрезать поперёк' for the figurative sense; this is too literal. For 'This issue cuts across...', use 'этот вопрос затрагивает/касается...' or 'эта проблема актуальна для всех...'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'cut through' interchangeably in all contexts. 'Cut through' often implies overcoming an obstacle, while 'cut across' implies ignoring established paths or categories.
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'cut across' used figuratively?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it is less common. You can say 'cut a path across the field' or 'cut the ideological boundaries across.' The inseparable form (cut across + NP) is far more frequent.
'Cut through' often implies passing through a medium that presents some resistance (e.g., a crowd, bureaucracy, red tape). 'Cut across' primarily means to take a direct route that ignores established paths or, figuratively, to apply to multiple categories.
It can be neutral or slightly negative in the literal sense (e.g., cutting across someone's lawn is trespassing). Figuratively, it is usually neutral or analytical, describing a factual state of affairs.
It is a phrasal verb (verb + preposition). The word 'cut' remains a verb, and 'across' functions as a preposition introducing the object.