cut both ways

C c

Definitions of cut both ways words

noun cut both ways to have both good and bad effects 3
noun cut both ways to affect both sides of something, as two parties in an argument, etc 3
verb with object cut both ways to penetrate with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument or object: He cut his finger. 1
verb with object cut both ways to divide with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument; sever; carve: to cut a rope. 1
verb with object cut both ways to detach with or as if with a sharp-edged instrument; separate from the main body; lop off: to cut a slice from a loaf of bread. 1
verb with object cut both ways to hew or saw down; fell: to cut timber. 1

before 1175

One of the 8% oldest English words

1175-1225; Middle English cutten, kytten, kitten, Old English *cyttan; akin to Old Swedish kotta to cut, Old Norse kuti little knife

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer