# cut back on

CEFR B1 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cut-back-on
Updated: 2026-04-24

## Definition

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

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "We must cut back the sugar." but "We must cut back on sugar." — the preposition 'on' is required to connect the action to the specific item being reduced.

## Usage notes

- 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.

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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.