Mastering ‘Cut back on’: Your Key to IELTS Speaking Success

Understanding ‘Cut back on’

‘Cut back on’ is a phrasal verb that plays a crucial role in expressing ideas related to reduction or decreasing consumption. In the context of IELTS, mastering this phrasal verb can significantly enhance your speaking and writing skills, allowing you to articulate complex ideas with precision and fluency.

Definition and Explanation

‘Cut back on’ means to reduce the amount or frequency of something, typically consumption or expenditure. It’s often used when discussing lifestyle changes, financial decisions, or environmental concerns. Synonyms include ‘reduce’, ‘decrease’, or ‘scale down’.

Usage in Context

Here are some examples of ‘cut back on’ in different contexts:

• Formal: “The company decided to cut back on expenses to improve profitability.”
• Informal: “I’m trying to cut back on sugar to improve my health.”
• Written: “Governments worldwide are implementing policies to cut back on carbon emissions.”
• Spoken: “I’ve been cutting back on my social media usage lately.”

Examples of 'Cut back on' usage in different contexts

Grammar Analysis

‘Cut back on’ is an inseparable phrasal verb, meaning the object always comes after the entire phrase. For example:

• Correct: “We need to cut back on our spending.”
• Incorrect: “We need to cut our spending back on.”

Application in IELTS

In IELTS Speaking

Using ‘cut back on’ can demonstrate your vocabulary range in the IELTS Speaking test. Here’s how you might use it to answer common questions:

Question: “What changes have you made to your lifestyle recently?”
Sample Answer: “Recently, I’ve been trying to cut back on my screen time. I realized I was spending too many hours on my phone and computer, so I’ve made a conscious effort to reduce that and engage in more physical activities instead.”

In IELTS Writing

In IELTS Writing, ‘cut back on’ can be used effectively in Task 2 essays, particularly when discussing environmental issues, health, or economics. For example:

“Many experts argue that to address climate change, individuals need to cut back on their consumption of meat and dairy products.”

Remember to use this phrasal verb judiciously in formal writing, as it may be considered slightly informal in some contexts.

Related Phrasal Verbs

1. Cut down on /kʌt daʊn ɒn/: Similar to ‘cut back on’, means to reduce.
   Example: “I’m trying to cut down on caffeine.”

2. Scale back /skeɪl bæk/: To reduce the size or extent of something.
   Example: “The company had to scale back its expansion plans due to the economic downturn.”

3. Pare down /peər daʊn/: To reduce something by cutting off excess.
   Example: “We need to pare down our expenses to meet the budget.”

4. Trim down /trɪm daʊn/: To reduce in size or amount.
   Example: “The manager asked us to trim down our report to five pages.”

5. Phase out /feɪz aʊt/: To gradually stop using or providing something.
   Example: “The government plans to phase out single-use plastics over the next five years.”

Infographic of related phrasal verbs to 'cut back on'

Practice Exercises

Fill in the Blanks

1. The doctor advised him to __ __ __ fatty foods.
2. To save money, we need to __ __ __ unnecessary expenses.
3. Many people are trying to __ __ __ their carbon footprint.
4. The company had to __ __ __ production due to decreased demand.
5. She’s trying to __ __ __ her caffeine intake.
6. We should __ __ __ our energy consumption to reduce bills.
7. The government plans to __ __ __ subsidies for fossil fuels.
8. He decided to __ __ __ his working hours to spend more time with family.
9. Experts recommend __ __ __ salt in our diets.
10. The university had to __ __ __ its budget due to funding cuts.

Sentence Transformation

1. Original: They reduced their spending on luxury items.
   Rewrite: They __ __ __ spending on luxury items.

2. Original: The company is gradually stopping the use of plastic packaging.
   Rewrite: The company is __ __ plastic packaging.

3. Original: We need to reduce the size of our workforce.
   Rewrite: We need to __ __ our workforce.

4. Original: The government is reducing funding for this program.
   Rewrite: The government is __ __ funding for this program.

5. Original: She’s trying to reduce her social media usage.
   Rewrite: She’s trying to __ __ __ her social media usage.

6. Original: We should decrease our reliance on fossil fuels.
   Rewrite: We should __ __ __ our reliance on fossil fuels.

7. Original: The company is reducing its expansion plans.
   Rewrite: The company is __ __ its expansion plans.

8. Original: He’s gradually reducing his workload as he approaches retirement.
   Rewrite: He’s __ __ his workload as he approaches retirement.

9. Original: We need to reduce our expenses to meet the budget.
   Rewrite: We need to __ __ our expenses to meet the budget.

10. Original: The factory is reducing production due to low demand.
    Rewrite: The factory is __ __ __ production due to low demand.

Answers and Explanations

Fill in the Blanks:
1-10. cut back on

All these sentences require the phrasal verb ‘cut back on’ to express the idea of reduction or decrease.

Sentence Transformation:

1. cut back on
2. phasing out
3. scale back
4. cutting back on
5. cut back on
6. cut back on
7. scaling back
8. paring down
9. trim down
10. cutting back on

These transformations demonstrate the use of ‘cut back on’ and related phrasal verbs to express reduction or decrease in different contexts.

Memorization Tips

To remember ‘cut back on’, visualize scissors cutting through a stack of papers labeled with things you might want to reduce, like “expenses”, “sugar”, or “screen time”. This visual association can help cement the meaning and usage of the phrasal verb in your mind.

Another helpful technique is to create a memorable sentence that resonates with your personal goals, such as: “I need to cut back on procrastination to ace my IELTS test!”

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

1. Incorrect word order: Remember, ‘cut back on’ is inseparable. Always use it as a complete unit followed by the object.
   Incorrect: “We need to cut our expenses back on.”
   Correct: “We need to cut back on our expenses.”

2. Confusing with ‘cut off’: While ‘cut off’ means to stop completely, ‘cut back on’ implies a reduction, not a complete cessation.
   Incorrect: “I’m cutting off sugar from my diet.”
   Correct: “I’m cutting back on sugar in my diet.”

3. Overuse in formal writing: While ‘cut back on’ is perfectly acceptable in the IELTS Speaking test and can be used judiciously in Writing Task 2, be cautious about overusing it in very formal contexts. Consider synonyms like ‘reduce’ or ‘decrease’ for variety.

Conclusion

Mastering phrasal verbs like ‘cut back on’ can significantly enhance your performance in the IELTS test. It allows you to express ideas about reduction and change with precision and fluency. Remember to practice using this phrasal verb in various contexts, and don’t hesitate to incorporate it into your IELTS Speaking responses or Writing Task 2 essays where appropriate. With consistent practice and application, you’ll find that using ‘cut back on’ becomes second nature, helping you to achieve your desired IELTS score.