Idiom · C1 · Neutral to informal · usually disapproving
cut corners
Save time, money, or effort by skipping steps or lowering standards, often harming quality or safety.
štedeti na račun kvaliteta; preskakati važne korake
Memory scene
A builder skips the stool’s corner braces to finish faster. The job is quicker, but the stool wobbles.
How it sounds
kut KOR-nerz
Stress the first syllable of corners; the verb forms are cut–cut–cut.
Build the sentence
cut corners · cut corners on + area · cut corners by + -ing
Use it
The contractor cut corners by using thinner materials than promised.
Saving money came at the expense of the agreed quality.
Even with a tight deadline, we won’t cut corners on testing.
A negative form commits to keeping important standards.
Watch out
This is usually criticism, not praise for efficiency. Keep corners plural. A harmless shortcut is not automatically cutting corners; the phrase normally suggests something important was sacrificed.
Nearby language
Emphasizes using too little time, money, or material for something.
Can describe an efficient method without implying lower standards.
Simply means reduce spending and need not involve poor work.
Make it yours
Tim želi da preskoči važne provere kako bi završio proizvod do petka. Protivite se tome.