cut it fine
idiom

- to allow a very small margin of something, especially time

- to only leave yourself just enough time to do something

Oxford Languages / Cambridge Idioms Dictionary

—
PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase “cut it fine" emerged in the late 1800s and referred to the precise cutting or trimming of something. For example, tailors carefully cutting fabric to make clothes "cut it fine" to avoid wasting material.

Related phrases like "cut it close" and "cut it thin" also appeared around the same time, reinforcing the idea of doing something very exactly, with little room for error.

By the early 1900s it had broadened from literal cutting to taking any kind of risk or action close to the limits. For example, catching a train by a very narrow margin could be called "cutting it fine".

The phrase is more common in British English but is used across English-speaking countries today to indicate doing something close to the limit of safety or acceptability.

—
MORE CUTTING IDIOMS

- cut the mustard = to meet the required standards or expectations (Sorry Jim, the team’s proposal just doesn’t cut the mustard)

- cut and dried = predictable or straightforward, with no room for variation (The business plan needs to be completely cut and dried for Friday’s meeting)

- cutting remarks = hurtful or critical comments made about someone or something (I found Bob’s cutting remarks rather insensitive)

- cutthroat competition = the intense and ruthless competition, often in business or sports, where competitors will do anything to succeed (The tech industry is well-known for its cutthroat competition)

- cut from the same cloth = two or more people are very similar in character, behaviour, or beliefs, as if they were made from the same material (Our US department heads are all cut from the same cloth)

- cut no ice = to make no effect or impression (His explanation of why he didn't finish the job cut no ice with me)

- cut to the chase = to get quickly to the matter at hand (Kindly cut to the chase—I need the facts now!)

—
SYNONYMS

court danger (disaster, uncertainty), cut it close, CUT IT FINE, dance on the edge of a knife (with danger), live by the skin of your teeth (by your wits, dangerously, on the edge), navigate a narrow path, play a dangerous game (it by ear, with fire), press your luck, push the boundaries (the envelope, the limit, your luck), ride a fine line (the edge, the razor's edge), sail close to the wind, skate on thin ice, take a chance (a risk), tempt fate, test the limits, walk a fine line, walk a tightrope

—
SMUGGLE OWAD into a conversation, say something like:

"Don't CUT IT FINE — in case of train delays, it’s best to allow oneself 90 minutes to get to the airport on time.”

—
THANKS to Birgit for suggesting today’s word.

—
HERZLICHEN DANK to all readers helping me keep OWAD alive with single or monthly donations.

Every month, I spend evening and weekend hours with my family researching and writing your daily OWAD. It remains FREE, AD-free, and ALIVE thanks to voluntary donations from appreciative readers.

If you aren’t already, please also consider supporting us - even the equivalent of a single cup of coffee a month will help us cover mailing, site hosting, and maintenance costs. Just head over to DonorBox:

https://donorbox.org/please-become-a-friend-of-owad-5-3

or bank transfer to Paul Smith
IBAN: DE75 7316 0000 0002 5477 40
stating your first name and last name and “OWAD donation” as the ‘Verwendungszweck’

Thank you,
Paul