English Reference
Idiom idiom

cut up


To distress mentally or emotionally.

Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.


SIMPLE

“She was really cut up about the bad news.”

CONTEXTUAL

“He was so cut up after losing his job that he did not leave his house for a week.”

COMPLEX

“Although she tried to maintain a composed exterior, it was evident that she remained deeply cut up by the sudden and unexpected departure of her closest colleague.”


Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    clear cut

    Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.

  2. 02

    cut a dash

    To make a display of oneself; to give a conspicuous impression.

  3. 03

    cut a deal

    To reach a negotiated agreement.

  4. 04

    cut a figure

    To present an image; to make an impression.

  5. 05

    cut a rug

    To dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half of the twentieth century.

  6. 06

    cut a swath

    Alternative form of cut a wide swath.

  7. 07

    cut a wide swath

    To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.

  8. 08

    cut about

    To go around (move from person to person).

Last updated August 10, 2026