cut a person

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cut a person" is not correct and usable in written English without additional context.
It may refer to physically harming someone or metaphorically ending a relationship, but it requires clarification to be appropriate. Example: "After the argument, she decided to cut him from her life completely."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

As a teenager, he used that apparently inborn talent aggressively and could cut a person to the quick in a New York Minute!

University of California, Berkeley

If we waited for certainty before taking action, we would have never developed medical advances like open-heart surgery, in which we cut a person open to save his life, cancer treatments, in which where we give a person poison to save his life, or electroconvulsive therapy, in which we induce seizures (under anesthesia, of course) to relieve major psychiatric disorders.

The New York Times

PARIS — The French government is preparing to announce that it will provide PSA Peugeot Citroën with credit guarantees worth as much as €7 billion in exchange for sparing some of the 8,000 jobs it was planning to cut, a person with direct knowledge of the matter said Tuesday.

The New York Times

An academic study by Pager and Western in 2005 showed that in New York City having a criminal record cut a person's employment prospects by nearly a third.

The New York Times

The goal of the agency's approach is to cut a person's monthly payment to 31percentt of gross monthly income by reducing the interest rate or increasing the loan's length; some officials favor reducing the outstanding principle.

The New York Times

The fire service was called to cut a person free from one vehicles involved.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

51 human-written examples

In his book "Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community," Robert Putnam writes that joining a group cuts a person's odds of dying next year by half.

The New York Times

Taking a side street route when walking through a city cuts a person's air pollution exposure by half, according to a new study.

The Guardian

(This month Kathiresan reported another gene that, when missing, greatly cuts a person's risk of heart disease). Drug companies bet millions on drugs that cure animals or work in a lab dish.

MIT Technology Review

Others are more difficult, like deciding between two job offers, whether to move to a new city for someone you love, or whether to cut a toxic person out of your life.

Huffington Post

But earlier studies had found that the flu vaccine cut an elderly person's risk of dying by 50percentt.

The New York Times - Health

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When intending to convey severing a relationship, use clearer and more direct phrases like "sever ties with someone" or "end a relationship".

Common error

Avoid using the phrase "cut a person" without providing sufficient context, as it can be vague and misinterpreted. Always clarify the intended meaning to prevent confusion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cut a person" functions as a verb phrase where "cut" is the verb and "a person" is the object. It can denote various actions depending on the context, ranging from physically harming someone to ending a relationship. Ludwig AI clarifies that the appropriateness depends heavily on context.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

48%

Academia

26%

Wiki

14%

Less common in

Formal & Business

6%

Science

3%

Reference

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "cut a person" is grammatically valid but semantically ambiguous, often requiring additional context to convey the intended meaning. Ludwig AI suggests that the appropriateness of the phrase hinges on providing sufficient context to avoid misinterpretation. Occurring in news, academic, and wiki sources, it spans meanings from physical harm to severing relationships. To ensure clarity, consider using more specific alternatives such as "sever ties with someone" or "physically harm someone", depending on your intended meaning. To enhance clarity in writing, avoid using "cut a person" without providing sufficient context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

sever ties with someone

Focuses specifically on ending a relationship or connection.

end a relationship with someone

Directly indicates the termination of a romantic or personal relationship.

sever relations with someone

Indicates breaking off diplomatic or formal connections with another party.

reduce someone's salary

Implies decreasing the amount of money someone earns.

decrease a person's intake

Refers to lowering the amount of something, like food or resources, that someone consumes.

slash someone's budget

Indicates a drastic reduction in financial resources allocated to someone or something.

physically harm someone

Specifically refers to causing bodily injury to another person.

trim a person's expenses

Implies carefully reducing spending to save money.

critically wound someone

Implies inflicting severe physical injury that could be life-threatening.

decrease a person's exposure

Refers to lowering the amount of something, like pollution or risk, that someone is subjected to.

FAQs

What does "cut a person" mean?

The phrase "cut a person" can have multiple meanings, including physically harming someone, emotionally wounding them, or ending a relationship. Its meaning depends heavily on context. For example, to "sever ties with someone".

How can I use "cut a person" in a sentence correctly?

To use "cut a person" correctly, provide clear context. For instance, "His words cut her deeply," meaning his words hurt her. However, it's often better to use more precise alternatives like "sever ties with someone" or "end a relationship with someone".

What's a better way to say "cut a person"?

Instead of "cut a person", consider alternatives like "physically harm someone" for physical harm, "critically wound someone" for severe injuries, or "sever ties with someone" for ending a relationship. The best choice depends on your intended meaning.

Is "cut a person" grammatically correct?

The phrase "cut a person" is grammatically correct but often vague and requires context. Ludwig AI indicates it's not always appropriate without clarification. Using more specific phrases is generally preferred for clarity.