Phrasal verb
cut back on
Definition
phrasal verb. to use, spend, or do less of something, usually to save money or improve your health.
phrasal verb. to reduce the consumption, expenditure, or frequency of a specific activity or resource; typically used in contexts of budgeting or lifestyle changes.
Examples
“I need to cut back on coffee.”
“The company decided to cut back on travel expenses to save money this year.”
“Economists suggest that households are beginning to cut back on non-essential spending as inflation continues to erode their purchasing power.”
Examples
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.”
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.
Phrasal verb
Particles
back on
Separability
inseparable
Pattern
cut + back + on + object
Synonyms
Antonyms
Grammar
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/cut-back-on