The idiom ‘cut corners' simply means to do something that saves time or money. This video explains the meaning of the idiom 'cut corners' in English. We explain how to use it with some easy examples to help you learn this idiom so you can use it in Spoken and Business English.
When someone ‘cuts corners’, they complete something badly, or cheaply. This phrase originates from driving. It's when you come to a sharp turn in the road and instead of going all the way to the corner, you go straight across and cut off the corner to save time by shortening the distance you travel. The same applies when you use this idiom because it means to complete something early and to an unsatisfactory degree of quality.