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Cut It On / Cut It Off

In Southern and Appalachian speech, cut it on and cut it off mean "turn it on" and "turn it off" - a signature regional way of talking about switches, appliances, and lights.

#SouthernSayings   #Appalachia   #Southern

synonyms: turn it on, turn it off, switch on, switch off
Hillbilly Dude Says...
We say 'cut the light or tv or fan off' in our house, and it's a common one down here. 

Pronunciation

[KUT-it ON / KUT-it OFF] /kʌt ɪt ɒn/ - /kʌt ɪt ɔːf/

Meaning & Usage

- To turn something on or off (saying/command)

Mama:
Cut the stove off before it burns!
Junior:
Okay! And I cut the porch light on, too.
variations: cut it on, cut it off, cut the light on, cut the stove off, cut the TV on
★ "Cut" in this sense doesn’t mean slice - it’s an old verb for "operate" or "switch." In Southern homes, "cut it on/off" is as common as "turn it on/off" elsewhere. ★

Origin

"Cut it on/off" descends from older Scots-Irish and British English usages of "cut" meaning "switch" or "start/stop." This form persisted in the South and Appalachia and has been documented since at least the early 20th century. It’s one of the best-known Southernisms noted by outsiders.

Notes

  • Cut it on - "turn it on" (lights, stoves, TVs, fans, etc.).
  • Cut it off - "turn it off" (same range of appliances).
  • Common combinations: "Cut the light on," "Cut the stove off," "Cut the heat on."
  • Recognized marker of Southern/Appalachian speech; rarely used elsewhere in the U.S.
  • Younger Southerners may still use it casually as a badge of local identity.

Kin Topics

Kin Words, Stories and More

Common Questions

Why do Southerners say "cut it on/off" instead of "turn it on/off"?
It’s a holdover from older English where "cut" could mean "operate" or "switch." In the South it stuck as a household expression.
Is it still used today?
Yes - very commonly, especially in family, church, and rural settings. It’s one of the first Southernisms outsiders notice.
Can it apply to anything with a switch?
Pretty much - lights, fans, ovens, TVs, even car headlights ("Cut them lights on").
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