Cut out means to remove something with scissors from paper, a magazine or a photo, or to stop eating, drinking or doing something completely: cut out sugar. The second meaning is most often used about food and habits that people drop for the sake of their health or sleep.
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cut out + food/habit; cut + it/sugar + out; cut + something + out of + magazine/photo
- Since I cut out fizzy drinks, I've been sleeping much better.
- She cut a photo out of an old magazine for her art project.
- Our manager cut out two slides because the presentation was running too long.
What changed
First versionI refused from sugar last month and feel much better.
RevisionI cut out sugar last month and feel much better.
Refuse means to say no to an offer or a request (refuse an offer, refuse to help), and it never takes from. When you stop eating something or drop a habit, the natural choice is cut out, or sometimes give up.
Cut out removes something completely, while cut down on only reduces it: I've cut down on coffee means I drink less; I've cut out coffee means I don't drink it at all. Cut off means something else: to cut a piece away or to disconnect a supply. They cut off the water for two hours.
Your turn
My dentist said even one sweet a day was too much, so I've ___ sweets completely.
Show the answer
cut out — Even one sweet a day is too much, and the sentence ends with completely: sweets have been removed altogether, which is cut out. Cut down on means eating less, and that kind of reduction doesn't go with completely.
Write about a food or habit you've given up. Say exactly what you cut out and what changed afterwards.
I cut out energy drinks during my exams, and after a week I stopped waking up at night.
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