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Victorycountry Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Wow, that's cutting it close.

Hi,

I am just wondering about the meaning of "cutting it close" in "Wow, that's cutting it close."



Victor:


Well, I've got to finish a report by ten. Then I have to drive to the airport to pick up a client of mine at eleven. After that, I'll have a meeting with him over lunch. I guess I won't have a break until two o'clock. But then from three until five, I have to attend a senior staff meeting.


Sohee:


Wow, that's cutting it close.


Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Hello! I understand this as "you've got a very tight schedule", "you don't give yourself much spare time".

— Pieanne

  • Hello!
  • I understand this as "you've got a very tight schedule", "you don't give yourself much spare time".
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3 Answers
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Hello!

I understand this as "you've got a very tight schedule", "you don't give yourself much spare time".
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'Cutting it close'--

Picture a carpenter sawing a piece of wood. He marks, with his pencil, the line where the saw-cut is to be made, then saws the wood a little bit short of the mark, or close to the mark (maybe on purpose, or maybe accidentally--carpenters will say, when cutting for a precision fit: 'Show the mark'--that is, cut short of the mark so that when the cut is completed, the
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Interesting. In BrE, it's more usual to say "cutting it (a bit) fine". (I think.)

MrP
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