crossword clue cut down – All Crossword Answers
Welcome to Answercrossword.com! If you're looking for solutions to the clue "cut down," you've come to the right place. We provide a comprehensive list of answers, organized by letter count, along with helpful explanations to get you unstuck and finish your puzzle.
Solutions for "crossword clue cut down" by Letter Count
3 Letters
AXE: To cut or chop with an axe, often referring to felling trees or eliminating something abruptly.
LOP: To cut off a branch or limb from a tree, or to reduce something by removing parts.
4 Letters
TRIM: To reduce the size or extent of something by cutting, often for neatness or efficiency, like a hedge or a budget.
CHOP: To cut into pieces with a heavy blow or blows, commonly used for wood or food items.
FELL: Specifically refers to cutting down a tree, causing it to fall.
5 Letters
PRUNE: To reduce by cutting off superfluous parts, especially from a plant to improve growth or shape, or figuratively to reduce something unnecessary.
6 Letters
REDUCE: To make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size; a general term for diminishing something.
LESSEN: To diminish in size, amount, or intensity; often used for abstract concepts like pain or burden.
8 Letters
DECREASE: To make or become smaller or fewer in amount, size, or extent; synonymous with reduce.
8 Letters
RETRENCH: To reduce costs or spending in response to economic difficulty; often used in a business context.
More About "crossword clue cut down"
The phrase "cut down" is a versatile one, which makes it a frequent visitor in crossword puzzles. Its literal meaning often involves severing something with a sharp instrument, such as cutting down a tree or reducing the height of a bush. This interpretation gives rise to answers like AXE, LOP, CHOP, or FELL, each implying a slightly different method or object of cutting.
However, "cut down" also has significant metaphorical uses, which crossword setters love to exploit. It can mean to reduce in quantity, size, or intensity, leading to answers such as REDUCE, LESSEN, DECREASE, or TRIM. For instance, one might "cut down" on expenses, "cut down" the amount of sugar in a recipe, or "cut down" a large speech to a shorter version. The context provided by other words in the clue or intersecting answers is crucial for pinpointing the exact meaning and therefore the correct solution.
Understanding these multiple facets is key to solving clues like "cut down." Pay attention to whether the clue implies a physical action, a reduction in abstract terms, or even a psychological impact (like "cutting someone down" meaning to humble them, though less common in typical crosswords). The length of the answer boxes will always be your primary guide, narrowing down the possibilities significantly.
Tips For Your Next Puzzle
- Consider Synonyms: For a clue like "cut down," think broadly about all its synonyms. Does it mean to prune, to fell, to diminish, or to reduce? Each synonym can lead to a different correct answer depending on the required length.
- Look at the Word Length: Always check the number of letters in the answer first. This immediately eliminates many possibilities and guides your thought process towards words of the correct length. For "cut down," knowing if it's a 3-letter word or an 8-letter word is critical.
- Check Surrounding Clues: Intersecting words are your best friends. If you have a few letters from crossing answers, they can help confirm or deny your potential solution for "cut down."
- Identify the Part of Speech: Is "cut down" being used as a verb (e.g., 'to fell a tree') or an adjective (e.g., 'a cut-down version')? While less common, sometimes setters use tricky grammatical forms that can hint at specific answers.
For more advice, visit our page on general crossword strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'cut down' mean in a crossword?
In crosswords, 'cut down' typically refers to actions like felling trees (FELL, AXE, LOP), reducing in size or quantity (TRIM, CHOP, REDUCE, LESSEN, DECREASE), or pruning plants (PRUNE). The specific context of the full clue and intersecting letters will guide you to the correct answer length and meaning.
Why are there so many answers for 'cut down'?
The phrase 'cut down' is highly polysemous, meaning it has multiple meanings depending on the context. It can refer to physical cutting, reduction in quantity, or even metaphorical 'cutting down' someone's ego. Crossword setters leverage these various interpretations to create challenging and diverse clues, offering a wide range of possible answers for the same clue.
How do I choose the right 'cut down' answer for my puzzle?
To pick the best answer, first look at the number of letters required. Then, consider the surrounding clues and any specific hints in the 'cut down' clue itself. For example, if it's about trees, 'FELL' or 'LOP' might fit. If it's about costs, 'REDUCE' or 'RETRENCH' could be appropriate. Always double-check with any intersecting letters you already have filled in.