cut both ways

Register · Neutral Neutral — appropriate in most situations, both spoken and written, without sounding too casual or too stiff. CEFR B2

Post

Example

“Working from home can cut both ways: it saves travel time but may leave people isolated.”

Dictionary details

Component words

cut

Tags

Expressions connected by reviewed component words or topic tags.

cut loose Informal · CEFR B1

to abandon restraint and behave freely or wildly

cut a dash Neutral · CEFR C1

to attract admiring attention with a stylish appearance or confident manner

cut and dried Neutral · CEFR C1

fully settled and clear, with little room for debate or alteration

cut and thrust Neutral · CEFR C1

the vigorous back-and-forth of intense argument or competition

cut your teeth on Informal · CEFR C1

to gain your first experience of something, usually early in your career

can of worms Informal · CEFR B1

a complicated problem that causes trouble the moment it is touched

Source methodology

Meanings, register, CEFR, and examples come from the reviewed dictionary record. Expression notes may describe a reviewed present-day word picture or a background note; they are not presented as verified etymology.

markdown