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Difficulty: MediumIdiomatic Expressions in Context

During the construction of the municipal water filtration facility, the project superintendent warned the engineering team not to cut corners, emphasizing that strict adherence to safety specifications was far more important than beating the deadline. In this sentence, what is the meaning of the phrase cut corners?

  1. A
    trim the sharp exterior angles of structural building materials
  2. compromise quality or procedural standards to save time and expenseAnswer
  3. C
    accelerate the project schedule by implementing innovative techniques
  4. D
    halt all scheduled operations until additional funding is secured

Answer

compromise quality or procedural standards to save time and expense
The phrase 'cut corners' is an idiomatic expression that means to do something in a hasty or careless way, typically by disregarding established rules or standards to economize on time or money. The context of emphasizing 'strict adherence to safety specifications' over 'beating the deadline' clearly indicates that cutting corners refers to sacrificing quality and procedural standards.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the sentence context and surrounding clues
The superintendent contrasts 'cut corners' with 'strict adherence to safety specifications' and mentions avoiding it despite the desire to 'beat the deadline.'
Contextual contrast clues establish that the phrase represents an improper action that sacrifices safety or quality for speed.
2
Deduce the figurative meaning of the idiomatic expression
The idiom 'cut corners' means doing something in the easiest, quickest, or cheapest way by omitting necessary steps or disregarding rules.
Idioms cannot be interpreted through the literal definitions of their individual words; their figurative meaning must fit the established context.

Key Concept

Idiomatic Expressions in Context
Estimated Time:45s
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Idiomatic Expressions in Context

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