ENGLISH
REFERENCE

cut back on

phr. v..
B1 Intermediate Oxford

phr. v.. to use, spend, or do less of something, usually to save money or improve your health.

phr. v.. to reduce the consumption, expenditure, or frequency of a specific activity or resource; typically used in contexts of budgeting or lifestyle changes.


SIMPLE

I need to cut back on coffee.

CONTEXTUAL

The company decided to cut back on travel expenses to save money this year.

COMPLEX

Economists suggest that households are beginning to cut back on non-essential spending as inflation continues to erode their purchasing power.

Particles
back on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
cut + back + on + object
Usage

always followed by the preposition 'on' and the noun representing the thing being reduced.

Teaching tip

contrast with 'cut down on' which is a near-perfect synonym; 'cut back on' often implies a more formal or strategic reduction in a budget or plan.

Pitfall

We must cut back the sugar.We must cut back on sugar.the preposition 'on' is required to connect the action to the specific item being reduced.

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