Who can tell me what's the difference between "cut down" and "cut down on"?
By cencenmaggie
@cencenmaggie (45)
China
October 12, 2011 12:41am CST
Hello my friends,
I'm an English learner. when i learn the usage of "cut down" and "cut down on", i noticed they were nearly the same. Both of them mean "reduce". i know most of you are the english masters. therefore, you can know them better. I hope you can help me for explaining the difference between "cut down" and "cut down on". here thanks a lot. expect your help.
1 response
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
12 Oct 11
Both phrases would mean almost exactly the same thing...
Say You were overweight..Someone might say "You're eating too much..You need to cut down.." (On the amount of food You eat.)
But say French fries were your major weakness...
in a similar situation,Someone might then say to You "You need to cut down on French Fries"..
"Cut down on" would be a more specific phrase.
@Supamoo (66)
• Nepal
12 Oct 11
Yes i would also agree with the above comment. But cut down may also refer to as to cut something literally down. Like to "CUT DOWN" a tree.(Like cut down that mans pen*s , BTW this is sick)
SO both are usable terms in place of their appropriate situations. So It would be upon your analysis as to where to use such phrase i.e. CUT DOWN and CUT DOWN ON. :)
@cencenmaggie (45)
• China
12 Oct 11
Thank both of you my friends for your explainations. Right now, I know why the dictionaries didn't point the difference out. :) Glad to meet you here.
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
12 Oct 11
As Supamoo says,the phrase could also refer to literally cutting something,like a tree..the context would be important in the use of these phrases too...
