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Difference between Cut back on something and Cut back to something

admin Confusing Phrases

cut back on something—lower the rate of smth.; reduce smth.:

  • The company cut back on production during the war.

Note: The expression does not fully correlate in meaning with the phrase cut back something—

1. make smth. shorter by cutting:

  • He decided to cut the plants back, in order to improve their growth later in the season.

2. = cut back on something:

  • The industry has been faced with having to cut back production because of rising costs.

cut back to something—(in films) return in time to smth.:

  • Laurie is staring into oblivion as the film cuts back to the earlier scene.