cut up

cut something into small pieces

B1

What does "cut sth up" mean?

To cut up something means to use a knife, scissors, or another tool to divide it into several smaller pieces. The focus is on the result — you end up with multiple pieces, not just one cut or one portion removed. It is most commonly used when talking about preparing food, such as cutting up vegetables or meat before cooking. You can also use it in other contexts, for example cutting up paper or fabric for a craft project. It is a very everyday expression used in both speaking and writing, including in recipes and instructions.

Examples

How to use it

cut up + object

The most common pattern, where the object (usually a food item or material) follows the particle.

Can you cut up the carrots while I heat the oil?

cut + object + up

Short noun objects very naturally appear between the verb and the particle, especially in conversation.

She cut the bread up and put it in a basket on the table.

cut + pronoun + up

When using a pronoun instead of a noun, it must always go between the verb and the particle.

The steak looked too big, so he cut it up before serving it.

object + be + cut up

The passive is very natural in recipes or instructions where the focus is on the ingredient being prepared, not the person doing it.

The chicken should be cut up into small pieces before it goes into the pot.

cut up + object + into + pieces/strips/chunks

You can add detail about the size or shape of the pieces using 'into'.

Please cut up the apple into small pieces so the children can eat it easily.

Common Collocations

vegetablesfruitmeatchickenpaperingredients

Common Mistakes

Pronoun placement

When the object is a pronoun like 'it' or 'them', it must go between 'cut' and 'up'. Putting it after 'up' is not correct in English.

✗ Can you cut up it before dinner?
✓ Can you cut it up before dinner?
Confusing 'cut up' with 'cut off'

'Cut up' means to divide something into several pieces. 'Cut off' means to remove one part from something, like removing the end of a carrot or disconnecting something. If the result is multiple pieces, use 'cut up'; if one piece is removed, use 'cut off'.

✗ She cut off the onion into small pieces for the soup.
✓ She cut up the onion into small pieces for the soup.
Using 'cut up' without an object

In this physical sense, 'cut up' always needs a direct object — the thing being divided. Without an object, it could be misread as the British informal meaning of being emotionally upset.

✗ I cut up for the recipe.
✓ I cut up the vegetables for the recipe.

Usage

This phrasal verb is neutral and common in everyday British and American English, especially in cooking. It is interchangeable with 'chop up' for food, though 'cut up' can also apply to non-food items like paper or fabric.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does 'cut up' always mean dividing into pieces? I've heard it used differently.

In this sense, yes — 'cut up' means to divide something into several smaller pieces, and it always has a direct object (the thing being cut). There is a separate, unrelated meaning in informal British English where 'cut up' describes feeling upset, but that is a completely different use and context usually makes it clear which is meant.

What kinds of things can you 'cut up'?

The most common objects are food items — vegetables, fruit, meat, chicken, bread, and cheese are all very typical. You can also cut up non-food items like paper or fabric, for example in crafts or DIY projects. Basically, anything that can be physically divided into multiple pieces works with this phrasal verb.

Can I use 'cut up' in a recipe or written instructions?

Yes, absolutely. 'Cut up' is very natural in both spoken and written English, including recipes and step-by-step instructions. The passive form is especially common in recipes, for example 'the vegetables should be cut up before cooking'.

Is 'cut up' the same as 'chop up'?

They are very similar and often interchangeable, especially with food. 'Chop up' suggests a slightly more forceful, downward cutting motion and is more strongly associated with cooking. 'Cut up' is a bit more general and can apply to paper, fabric, and other materials too, not just food.

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