cut back

See also: cutback and cut-back

English

Verb

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).
   • 2010 November 19, Elinor Comlay, "Banks cut back on trading with embassies: report", Reuters (wire) [1]:

     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.

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 with on) To reduce consumption.

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

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.