cut/tear off and cut/tear out

Question

Dear teachers:My student drew a picture on a piece of papera. Do I have to say "tear out "or "tear off "the picture?b, Do I have to say " cut off" or "cut out "the picture?c, What's the difference between tear/cut off and tear/cut out?Thanks for your detailed explanation.

Pieanne · Accepted Answer

To me, any "cutting" action requires a tool.

So, it should be "tear", "tear out", but a native will give better advise.

Goodman · Answer

I would say "cut out" in this context.

Tear off – would be ok if you refer to a portion of the paper, like a coupon from an advertising.

Pieanne · Answer

Oh! Of course... I imagined the teacher was furious, and the child had to destroy the drawing... [bad mum!]

Yes, "cut it out" if it's to keep it!

CalifJim · Answer

If it is attached to something else, it is regarded as on something, so you cut it off, on and off being opposites. Once a thing is cut off, something remains that it used to be attached to.

The head is on the body, so "Cut off his head!" (The body remains.)

If it is on the inside of something else, it is regarded as in something, so you cut it out, in and out being opposites. Once a thing is cut out, something remains that it used to be inside of.

A spoiled area may be found inside a tomato, so "Cut it out." (The rest of the tomato which contained the spoiled area remains.)

So, as far as the picture is concerned, if it is drawn near the edge of a very large piece of paper, and one cut in a straight line detaches the picture from the rest of the paper, leaving most of the paper, you'd say that you cut the picture off. This is probably the less likely of the two possibilities.

If the picture is drawn in the center of a piece of paper, and a cut in the shape of a circle or rectangle is needed to remove the picture from the rest of the paper, you'd say that you cut the picture out. This is most likely what you need for most situations involving cutting pictures.

CJ

cut/tear off and cut/tear out

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