手を抜く

te o nuku
phrase★Intermediate— to cut corners
◆ What It Really Means
To do something carelessly or half-heartedly, often to save time or effort, but potentially compromising quality.
Literal Meaning
To pull out one's hand
Literal Breakdown
手hand+をparticle indicating the object+抜くto pull out
◇ Mental Image
The mental image is of someone physically pulling their hand out of a task, symbolizing a lack of effort or commitment.
◈ When to Use
A manager scolds an employee for submitting a report with obvious errors, saying 'You cut corners on this report.'
◉ Cultural Note
This phrase reflects the Japanese cultural value of diligence and attention to detail, where cutting corners is often seen as a serious flaw in one's work ethic.
informal

To do something carelessly or half-heartedly, often to save time or effort, but potentially compromising quality.

このプロジェクトでは手を抜かないでください

Please don't cut corners on this project.

彼はテストで手を抜いた

He didn't put much effort into the test.

💡

This phrase is often used in negative contexts to criticize someone for not doing their best.

Related Phrases

手を抜くなphrase
don't cut corners
手を抜かないphrase
not to cut corners

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

This phrase is often used to criticize someone for not putting in enough effort, so be mindful of the context when using it.

⚡Gold Rule

Negative Connotation

This phrase is typically used in a negative context to express disapproval of someone's lack of effort.

📖Word Origin

The phrase combines '手' (hand) and '抜く' (to pull out), metaphorically suggesting that someone is not fully committing their effort, as if they're pulling out their hand from the work.

📝Usage Notes

This phrase is commonly used in both formal and informal contexts, but it often carries a negative connotation when referring to someone's work ethic.

Word Breakdown

手
hand
root
+
を
particle indicating the object
particle
+
抜く
to pull out
verb
和英辞典