# cut about

CEFR C1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cut-about
Updated: 2026-10-22

## Definition

to move around from place to place, usually in a hurry or without a clear plan. You use this when you are busy going to different spots in a town or area.

For teachers: to move or travel around a location, often rapidly or aimlessly. The verb is intransitive and predominantly used in British English informal register.

## Examples

- We spent the afternoon cutting about the shops.
- He spent his youth cutting about the streets of London with his friends before moving away.
- The documentary follows several couriers as they spend their shifts cutting about the congested city centre on bicycles.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I need to cut about this cake for the guests." but "I need to cut up this cake for the guests." — 'cut about' refers to physical movement through an area, not dividing an object into pieces.

## Usage notes

- This phrase is common in British English and usually describes someone being busy or active in a specific area.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'cut across' to show how the particle 'about' suggests movement in various directions rather than a straight line.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.