Explanation of "Cut Out"
Definition: The phrase "cut out" can be used as both a verb and an adjective. As a verb, it has several meanings, including stopping something suddenly, removing a part of something, or creating something by cutting. As an adjective, it describes something that has been removed or cut away.
Usage Instructions
As a Verb: Use "cut out" when you want to talk about stopping something, removing something, or making something by cutting.
As an Adjective: Use "cut-out" to describe something that has been cut from a larger piece.
Examples
For the art project, we cut out shapes from colored paper.
Picasso cut out a guitar from a piece of paper to create his artwork.
Advanced Usage
In a Technical Context: "Cut out" can refer to machines or systems that stop functioning unexpectedly. For example, "The power supply cut out, causing the computer to restart."
In Sports: The term can refer to intercepting a player or blocking them from advancing, like in basketball, e.g., "The defender cut out the opponent's path to the basket."
Word Variants
Cut-out (Adjective): Describing something that is shaped or formed by cutting. E.g., “I bought a cut-out dress from the store.”
Cutout (noun): A piece that has been cut out, often used in crafts or art. E.g., “She used a cardboard cutout of a tree for the decoration.”
Different Meanings
Informal Use: "Cut out" can also mean to stop doing something harmful, e.g., "You should cut out junk food for better health."
Idiomatic Usage: “Cut it out!” means to stop doing something annoying or inappropriate.
Synonyms
For "cut out" (as in remove): Delete, eliminate, remove, take out
For "cut out" (as in cease): Stop, halt, terminate
For "cut-out" (as an adjective): Removed, shaped, fashioned
Phrasal Verb
"Cut out" is a phrasal verb, which means it combines a verb (cut) with a particle (out) to create a new meaning.
Idioms
Summary
In summary, "cut out" is a versatile term used to describe the action of stopping, removing, or making things by cutting.