cut back

US /kʌt bæk/

UK /kʌt bæk/

1.

to reduce the amount or quantity of something

:

•

We need to cut back on expenses to save money.

•

She decided to cut back on sugar for her health.

:

reduce decrease curtail retrench scale back

2.

to prune or trim a plant, especially to encourage new growth or maintain shape

:

•

You should cut back these rose bushes in the fall.

•

The gardener advised me to cut back the overgrown branches.

:

prune trim lop clip shear

:

cut cutting cut in back backing cutting board cut off