cut back

cut back (third-person singular simple present cuts back, present participle cutting back, simple past and past participle cut back)

1. (transitive and intransitive with on) To reduce the amount of (something).

   The foliage is out of control and needs to be cut back.

   • 2010 November 19, Elinor Comlay, "Banks cut back on trading with embassies: report", Reuters (wire) :

     Some U.S. banks are cutting back their dealings with embassies and other foreign institutions in the United States because of the difficulty of complying with money-laundering rules, the Wall Street Journal reported.

   • 2019 May 28, Giovanni Russonello, “After a Scandal, the New Orleans Jazz Market Rises Again”, in The New York Times‎:

     The organization has slimmed down and cut back on its education programming, but the Jazz Market remains a critical gathering place in Central City, and the orchestra is more tightly bonded than before.

   • 2023 May 3, 'Industry Insider', “Funds for railway's upkeep”, in RAIL, number 982, page 84:

     The £3bn held by NR as a contingency fund to cover the impact of events brought about by extreme weather, which enables repairs following flooding and embankment failures, is also to be cut back.

2. (intransitive with on) To reduce spending.

   We need to cut back heavily on office supplies. Is there another vendor we can use?

3. (intransitive often with on) To reduce consumption.

   He needs to cut back on doughnuts. He weighs 289 pounds!

   I've cut back to one pack of cigarettes a week.

4. (intransitive, surfing) To perform the cutback maneuver.
   • 2016, Michael Panckridge, Chasing the Break:

     I cut back again myself and went over the top of the wave.

5. (intransitive often with to) To use a short cut; to move to a location to block someone; to cut someone off

   He almost scored but the defender cut back to him.