cut down on expenses

Meaning

This phrase means to reduce the amount of money spent on various things. It is commonly used in business meetings and casual conversations when discussing budgets, saving money, or managing financial difficulties.

Examples

• We need to cut down on expenses if we want to survive the winter quarter.

  We need to cut down on expenses if we want to survive the winter quarter.

• The startup had to cut down on travel expenses and switch to Zoom meetings.

  The startup had to cut down on travel expenses and switch to Zoom meetings.

• To cut down on office expenses, they stopped buying free snacks for the breakroom.

  To cut down on office expenses, they stopped buying free snacks for the breakroom.

• I'm trying to cut down on my personal expenses by cooking at home more often.

  I'm trying to cut down on my personal expenses by cooking at home more often.

• Management is looking for creative ways to cut down on operational expenses without firing anyone.

  Management is looking for creative ways to cut down on operational expenses without firing anyone.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ We need to cut down expenses.

  ✓ We need to cut down on expenses.

  The phrasal verb 'cut down' requires the preposition 'on' when it is followed by an object like 'expenses' or 'spending'.

• ✗ The boss wants to cut off expenses.

  ✓ The boss wants to cut down on expenses.

  'Cut off' means to stop completely or disconnect, whereas 'cut down on' means to reduce the amount.

Related Expressions

Practice

• If we want to hit our profit targets, we really need to ___ our marketing expenses.

  💡 Reduce the amount of money spent.

  Show answer

  cut down on

• The team managed to ___ travel expenses by booking flights months in advance.

  💡 A phrasal verb meaning to reduce.

  Show answer

  cut down on