a cutting motion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a cutting motion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a specific type of movement that resembles or is intended to cut, often in contexts related to physical actions or techniques. Example: "The chef demonstrated a cutting motion with the knife, swiftly slicing through the vegetables."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

6 human-written examples

Combine well using a cutting motion.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Combine the egg with the pistachio mixture using a cutting motion, and once it has mostly integrated you can use your hands to very lightly work the paste into a smooth mixture.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

General Mladic, who has been indicted by the war crimes tribunal and is a fugitive, responded with a gesture, Mr. Nikolic said, and he repeated it in court, moving his hand from left to right, palm down, in a cutting motion.

The New York Times

Sergeant Manuel Gutierrez, attached to the district attor ney's office, said that two months ago, when the state's star witness, Linda Kasabian, was testifying, Manson made a cutting motion across his neck with his finger while Mrs. Kasa bian was looking at him.

The New York Times

At the end of each stimulation period, the participants observed a knife approaching and sliding over the rubber hand or foot in a "cutting" motion following the procedures described in experiment 2. In our final experiment, we tested whether the present supernumerary hand illusion is qualitatively different from the traditional rubber hand illusion.

Plosone

Push the blade across the stone in a cutting motion.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

54 human-written examples

I live with my parents, and I know what's going on — — " Her publicist made a surreptitious cutting motion with her hand.

The New York Times

Ben's still in Charlotte working on music, he told me, and then made a polite cutting motion with his hand and requested we move on.

Vice

And each one, they cut me,' he said, pausing and then making an emphatic cutting motion with one hand as he said 'like a knife.'".

Huffington Post

The microscopic cutting motion is achieved by using a piezo tube scanner as an actuator.

Precision Engineering

And the cutting motion is performed along the middle line of the sample, i.e., on the (010) surface and along the (-100) direction shown in Figure 1.

Nanoscale Research Letters

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a process involving cutting, specify the type of "cutting motion" to provide clarity. For example, use "a sawing motion" instead of just "a cutting motion" if the action is back-and-forth.

Common error

Avoid using "a cutting motion" when a more precise term exists. For instance, describe the action as "slicing", "chopping", or "carving" to offer a clearer picture.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a cutting motion" primarily functions as a noun phrase, where "cutting" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "motion". Ludwig examples show it describing a specific type of movement, often in the context of cooking, surgery, or physical gestures.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Science

33%

Wiki

17%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "a cutting motion" is a noun phrase that describes a specific type of movement used for cutting. According to Ludwig, the phrase is grammatically correct and finds its use in various contexts like news, science, and wikis. While the phrase is considered uncommon, being more specific with terms like "slicing movement" or "chopping action" can enhance clarity. It's crucial to use "a cutting motion" when detailing the nature of the cut without being overly specific. It's important to consider that there are many different types of "cutting motions", and that the correct choice depends on the context in which it is being described.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a slicing movement

Emphasizes the action of slicing rather than just the motion of cutting.

a chopping action

Focuses on a downward, forceful cutting motion, like chopping.

a shearing action

Suggests a cutting motion that involves blades sliding past each other.

a sawing movement

Describes a back-and-forth cutting motion, similar to using a saw.

a carving motion

Implies a more controlled and precise cutting action, often for shaping.

a snicking motion

Denotes a small and quick cut.

a scything motion

Describes a wide, sweeping cutting action, reminiscent of using a scythe.

a whittling movement

Highlights a precise, shaving-like cutting motion, typically with a knife.

a slashing action

Suggests a forceful and sweeping cutting motion.

a mincing action

Implies a motion to finely cut a product.

FAQs

How can I use "a cutting motion" in a sentence?

You can use "a cutting motion" to describe how something is being cut. For example, "The chef demonstrated "a slicing movement" to prepare the vegetables."

What's another way to say "a cutting motion"?

Alternatives include "a slicing action", "a chopping movement", or "a shearing action", depending on the specific type of cut being described.

When is it appropriate to use "a cutting motion" instead of a more specific term?

Use "a cutting motion" when you want to generally describe the act of cutting without specifying the exact technique. In cases where precision is important, consider using terms like "a carving motion" or "a slashing action".

How does "a cutting motion" differ from "a sawing motion"?

"A cutting motion" is a general term, while "a sawing motion" specifically refers to a back-and-forth cutting action, typically used with a saw. Using the phrase "a sawing movement" emphasizes the back-and-forth aspect.