cut-through

In Appalachian and Southern speech, a "cut-through" is a small road or path used as a shortcut. It’s the country way of saying "shortcut," especially for back roads, alleys, or trails known only to locals.

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Hillbilly Dude Says...

You'll hear 'cut-through' often instead of 'shortcut.' We use 'shortcut', too, but that's mainly for actual roadways.

Pronunciation

[KUT-throo]

Meaning & Usage

- Shortcut road or path (noun)

Mae:

You wanna take the highway?

Earl:

Nah, use the cut-through by the mill - it’s quicker.

- Unofficial passage used by locals (noun/dialect)

Mae:

How’d you get here so fast?

Earl:

Took the cut-through behind the school.

other spellings: shortcut

★ "Cut-through" reflects a time before GPS when local knowledge of back roads and footpaths saved time. Outsiders might miss it entirely, but locals know every cut-through in their county. ★

Origin

From the verb "cut through" meaning "to go across or bypass." In rural Southern/Appalachian speech it became a noun - "the cut-through" - for a known shortcut road or path. Documented in regional usage throughout the 20th century.

Notes

Still common in rural Southern/Appalachian talk. Recognized elsewhere but rarely used as a stand-alone noun outside the region. Often a mark of local knowledge or insider directions.

Say It Like a Southerner

Said plain: "cut-through." Often paired with a landmark: "the cut-through by the church."

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Is a cut-through always legal?

Not necessarily - sometimes it’s an informal or unmarked path locals use.

How’s it different from a shortcut?

It’s a shortcut, but with local color - a road or path known mainly to people from the area.

Do people still use it today?

Yes - both for driving and walking, especially in small towns and rural counties.