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Business English vocabulary · Office Idioms and Phrases

Cut corners

Meaning in business english, with examples

idiomCommon term

In business english, cut corners means: To skip proper steps in order to save time, money or effort, often reducing quality.

In Turkish: gereken adımları atlamak, kolaya kaçmak

How it is used

Usually critical. It differs from genuine efficiency because necessary care or proper procedure is being sacrificed.

Example sentences

  1. We cannot cut corners on checking the figures just because the report is due today.

    The deadline does not justify removing accuracy checks.

  2. The cheap installation failed because the contractor tried to cut corners on preparation.

    The low price was achieved by sacrificing work needed for a reliable result.

Common collocations

  • be tempted to cut corners
  • never cut corners
  • company policyAn official rule or set of rules that guides how employees should act in particular situations at work.
  • deadlineThe latest date or time by which a piece of work must be finished, sent or delivered.

More terms: Office Idioms and Phrases

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