Cut corners
Meaning
To perform a task or produce something by omitting necessary steps or expenses to save time or money, often resulting in lower quality.
Origin
The phrase 'cut corners' brings to mind the literal act of taking a shortcut across a physical corner. Envision an early farmer with a horse and plow in a field: rather than following the perimeter meticulously around each turn, they would angle the plow across the corner to save time and effort. This practical expedient, shaving off a small portion of the field's edge, became a metaphor for any task where one attempts to save time, money, or effort by bypassing necessary steps, often at the cost of quality or completeness. By the early 20th century, the idiom had fully entered common usage, universally understood as compromising thoroughness for efficiency.
Examples
- The construction company was fined for trying to cut corners on safety inspections, endangering their workers.
- If you cut corners while preparing the project, you risk having to redo everything later.