Definition

1. Verb:
   • To interrupt a conversation or activity by speaking or acting: To insert oneself abruptly into an ongoing discussion or event.
   • To drive a vehicle into a line of traffic abruptly and closely in front of another: To move into a lane or position in traffic without leaving adequate space.
   • To interrupt a dancing couple to take one partner for oneself: To break into a dance, traditionally by tapping the shoulder of one dancer to take their place.
   • To mix in using cutting motions (technical/culinary): To incorporate one substance into another using a cutting or slicing action.

Usage and Examples

• Verb:
  • Please don't cut in while I'm speaking. (Interrupting a conversation)
  • The aggressive driver cut in front of me, causing me to brake hard. (Driving into traffic)
  • At the ball, it was customary for gentlemen to cut in on a dancing couple. (Interrupting a dance)
  • Cut the butter in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (Mixing with cutting motions)

Advanced Usage

• "to cut in on someone/something": To interrupt a specific person or a specific activity.
  • He rudely cut in on our private discussion.
• "to cut in line": (A common variant, though a compound phrase) To move ahead of others who are waiting in a queue.
  • It's impolite to cut in line at the store.

Variants and Related Words

• Cut-in (noun): A film editing technique; an interruption.
  • The director used a quick cut-in for a close-up shot.
• Cutting in (gerund/continuous form): The act of interrupting or merging.
  • His constant cutting in made the meeting very inefficient.

Synonyms

• Interrupt: To stop the continuous progress of an activity or process.
• Butt in: To intrude or interrupt impolitely (informal).
• Chime in: To join a conversation by interjecting a remark.
• Merge (in traffic contexts): To join a stream of traffic.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Cut off: To interrupt or obstruct; to disconnect.
  • She cut me off before I could finish my sentence.
• Break in: To interrupt a conversation.
  • He broke in with an important announcement.

Related Idioms

• "Cut to the chase": To get to the point without wasting time. (Note: This idiom uses "cut" but is a separate expression).
• "Have a cut of": To receive a share of profits (related to the "share or profit" sense, though "cut in" as a verb phrase for this is less common).
  • If you help us, you'll get a cut of the proceeds.

Verb

1. mix in with cutting motions
2. interrupt a dancing couple in order to take one of them as one's own partner
   • Jim always cuts in!
3. break into a conversation
   • her husband always chimes in, even when he is not involved in the conversation
4. drive in front of another vehicle leaving too little space for that vehicle to maneuver comfortably
5. allow someone to have a share or profit