B2idiomworkIELTS-friendly
cut corners
USUK
to do something quickly or cheaply by skipping steps, often lowering quality or safety
Always negative. Common when talking about building work, food safety and rushed projects; often 'cut corners on something'.
In context
The builders cut corners to save money, and now the walls are cracking.
We're behind schedule, but I don't want anyone cutting corners on safety checks.
More idioms about work
- a nine-to-five joba regular office job with fixed hours, usually from about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- bite off more than you can chewto try to do more than you are able to manage
- call it a dayto decide to stop working, usually because you have done enough for now
- drop the ballto make a mistake by forgetting or failing to do something you were responsible for
- get the sackto be told by your employer that you no longer have a job, often for doing something wrong