cut across
2 meanings
affect or apply to many different groups, beyond normal divisions
What does "cut across" mean in this sense?
Examples
- The appeal of the new movement cuts across traditional class boundaries.
- This policy issue has cut across party lines in a way that surprised many analysts.
- Concerns about data privacy tend to cut across generational and cultural divides.
How to use it
The most common pattern: an abstract issue, theme, or concern spans multiple groups or categories.
Anxiety about job security cuts across income levels and professional backgrounds.
Used frequently in political contexts to describe issues or support that is not limited to one side.
Opposition to the proposed law has cut across party lines, with members of all parties voting against it.
The infinitive form is natural after modal-like expressions that describe general tendencies.
Concerns about air quality tend to cut across traditional political and ideological boundaries.
Used to highlight that something transcends social or demographic categories that usually keep groups apart.
The popularity of the series has cut across generational divides, attracting both teenagers and retirees.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Because 'cut across' in this sense describes an ongoing state or general truth rather than an action happening right now, the continuous form sounds unnatural. Use the simple present instead.
When the object is a concrete geographical space (a field, a park, a lawn), 'cut across' means to take a physical shortcut — a completely different meaning. The figurative sense only works when the object is an abstract divisional noun like 'party lines' or 'class boundaries'.
In the figurative sense, the subject should be an abstract noun such as an issue, idea, or movement — not a person. Using an animate subject shifts the meaning toward the physical 'shortcut' sense.
Usage
This phrasal verb is more common in formal and written English — journalism, academic texts, and political discussion — than in casual speech. It is used in both British and American English with no significant regional difference.
go through a place to make the journey shorter
Sense 2: What does "cut across sth" mean?
Examples
- We cut across the park to save time instead of walking around it.
- She usually cuts across the car park on her way to the office.
- Why don't we cut across the field? It'll be much quicker.
How to use it
The most common pattern — a place name always comes directly after 'across', never between 'cut' and 'across'.
They cut across the campus to get to the lecture hall before it started.
A purpose clause with 'to' is very commonly added to explain why someone is taking the shortcut.
Let's cut across the car park to save a bit of time.
This pattern is common when suggesting or considering whether to take a shortcut.
We could cut across the field instead of going all the way around.
This pattern highlights the contrast between the shortcut and the longer alternative.
She cut across the garden instead of walking down the road.
Common Collocations
Common Mistakes
Unlike some phrasal verbs, 'cut across' cannot be separated. The object must always come after 'across', not between 'cut' and 'across'.
'Cut across' suggests crossing an open space like a park or field, while 'cut through' often suggests moving through something more enclosed or obstructed, like a crowd or a building. In practice they overlap, but if the space is open and you are crossing it diagonally, 'cut across' is the more natural choice.
The same words 'cut across' can mean something completely different — to affect or apply to many different groups (e.g. 'This problem cuts across all age groups'). These are two separate meanings, so make sure you use the movement-and-shortcut sense only when someone is physically travelling through a place.
Usage
This phrasal verb is neutral and works in both spoken and written English. It almost always appears with a named place as the object and often with a reason such as 'to save time' or 'to get there faster'.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can 'cut across' be used in the passive, like 'party lines are cut across by this issue'?
No — passive constructions sound very unnatural with this phrasal verb. Because the subject is typically an abstract concept that actively spans boundaries, the active form is always preferred. Stick to structures like 'this issue cuts across party lines'.
Is 'cut across' used in both British and American English?
Yes, it is used equally in both varieties with no significant difference in meaning or frequency. You will encounter it in journalism, political commentary, and academic writing on both sides of the Atlantic.
Does 'cut across' always mean something positive — like being widely popular?
Not necessarily. It simply means that something affects or applies to multiple groups, regardless of whether that is a good or bad thing. A shared problem or a widespread concern can cut across boundaries just as much as a popular movement can.
Is 'cut across' too formal for everyday conversation?
It sits between neutral and formal, so it appears more often in writing and structured speech — journalism, lectures, debates, policy discussions — than in casual chat. In everyday conversation, people might say something 'affects everyone' or 'goes beyond' a particular group instead.
What kinds of nouns typically follow 'cut across'?
The object is almost always an abstract noun describing a social, political, or ideological division — things like 'party lines', 'class boundaries', 'cultural divides', 'generational differences', or 'ideological distinctions'. If you find yourself using a concrete, geographical noun as the object, you have probably switched to the physical shortcut meaning of the phrase.
Does 'cut across' only work for people on foot?
No, it can also be used for vehicles or cyclists, though it is most commonly used for people walking. For example, you could say 'The motorbike cut across the yard to avoid the traffic'. The key idea is that something is deliberately taking a shorter, more direct route through an open space.
Can I use 'cut across' without naming the place?
Technically yes, but it usually sounds a little odd without a clear reference. If the place has already been mentioned and is very clear from context, you could say 'cut across it', but in most situations it sounds more natural to name the place — for example, 'cut across the field' rather than just 'cut across it'.
Does 'cut across' always mean taking a shortcut, or just crossing something?
In this sense, 'cut across' specifically implies that you are choosing a faster, more direct path rather than simply crossing something. If someone just walks across a space without any sense of saving time or distance, verbs like 'walk across' or 'go across' would be more natural.
Can I use 'cut across' to talk about a plan or future action?
Yes, you can use it with future forms or modal verbs when suggesting or planning a shortcut. For example, 'We'll cut across the square to get there faster' or 'Should we cut across the lawn?' are both natural. Very long future progressive forms like 'will be cutting across' are possible in theory but rarely used in practice.
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