How to Memorize

cut corners to make a deadline

Analysis

When you 'cut corners,' you use less effort, money, time, or resources than is necessary, and ignore standard rules or skip steps of a process. The result is not only something low in quality, it can also be illegal, particularly if someone was to do a deliberately poor job of building or repairing something that could endanger people's lives if it were to malfunction. Doing something badly or cheaply shows laziness or complacency, and therefore the term is almost exclusively used in a negative sense. It tends to be more common in a professional context but is used in a social one too. Phrases with a similar meaning include 'scrimp on,' 'take shortcuts,' and 'half-assed approach.' 

Social Examples (Basic)

1. I wish I hadn't cut corners when decorating my house. Everything looks cheap and tacky.
2. I don't believe in cutting corners I put all of my effort into everything I do.

Professional Examples (Basic)

1. I refuse to cut corners to save money. We must put the quality of our product first.
2. We had to cut a lot of corners to make the deadline, so what we produced was of a very low standard.
3. The mechanic obviously cut corners when fixing my car because it has broken down again.

Further Suggestions