'Cut it off', 'cut it out', etc

[Haihao]

Hi,

Allow me to ask a last question for today. :oops:

Phrasal verbs such as ‘Cut it off’ and ‘cut it out’ hold a ‘it’ in them. I guess the ‘it’ here has no particular meaning. But could you tell me how I should make up an image in my mind for it? I mean, does it really have no meaning at all (except for the sake of rhythm) or somewhat have hidden meanings such as ‘the thing you are talking or suggesting now’?

Thanks

haihao

[Conchita]

By ‘cut it out/off’, do you mean the informal phrase for ‘stop it’? In this case, the pronoun ‘it’ refers to whatever is annoying you and you are asking someone to stop doing.

[Alan]

HI,

The ubiquitous ‘it’ is in the imagination and mind of the speaker. Take a look at these woderful lyrics written by Cole Porter:

Lets Do It
[Lets Fall In Love]

Birds do it,_ Bees do it,__
e-ven ed-u-cat-ed fleas do it,___
Let’s do it,__ Let’s fall in__ love._______

In Spain, the best up-per _ sets do it,__
Lith - u - an-i-ans and Letts do it,__
Let’s do it,___ Let’s fall in__love._______

The Dutch in old Am-ster-dam do it,__
Not to men - tion the Finns
Folks in Si - am do it,__
Think of Si - am - ese twins.

Some Ar-gen-tines, with-out means, do it,__
Peo-ple say, in Bos-ton, ev - en beans do it,__
Let’s do it,___ Let’s fall in__love._______

Ro-mantic Spon - ges, they_ say, do it,__
Oy-sters, down in Oy - ster Bay, do it,__
Let’s do it,___ Let’s fall in__love._______

Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their__ wish, do it,__
ev-en laz - y Jel - ly - fish do it,__
Let’s do it,___ Let’s fall in__love._______

E-lect-ric eels, I might_ add, do it,__
Though it shocks 'em I know.
Why ask if__ shad do it,__
Wait - er, bring me shad - roe.

In shal-low shoals, Eng - lish soles do it,__
Gold-fish, in the pri - va -cy of bowls, do it,__
Let’s do it,___ Let’s fall in__love._______

Circa 1928
Words and Music by Cole Porter
Extended version
[Lets Fall In Love]

In old Japan, all the Japs do it
Up in Lapland little Laps do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The chimpanzees in the zoos do it
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

I’m sure giraffes on the sly do it
Even eagles as they fly do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - garcon de “shad roe”

The world admits bears in pits do it
Even Pekingeses at the Ritz do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The royal set sans regret did it
And they considered it fun
Marie Antoinette did it - with or without Napoleon

Parliament pleasure bent did it
Mam’selles every time their short of rent

Cold Cape Cod clams, 'gainst their wish, do it
Even lazy jellyfish, do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Electric eels I might add do it
Though it shocks em I know
Why ask if shad do it - Waiter bring me “shad roe”

In shallow shoals English soles do it
Goldfish in the privacy of bowls do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Dragonflies in the reeds do it
Sentimental centipedes do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Mosquitos, heaven forbid, do it
So does every katydid do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The most refined ladybug do it
When a gentleman calls
Moth in your rugs do it
What on earth, what’s the use of balls?

The locusts in the trees do it
Why, even the bees do it
Even over-educated fleas do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

The chimpanzees in the zoo do it
Some courageous kangaroos do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

I’m sure the giraffes on the sly do it
Heavy hippopotami do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

Sloths who hang down from the twigs do it
Though the effort is great
Sweet guineapigs do it Buy a couple and wait

The world admits bears in pits do it
Even Pekingeses in the Ritz do it
Let’s do it, let’s fall in love

A

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

Now that we’ve got the word ‘it’ with the meaning of ‘fall in love’, let’s go back to your original examples:

“Cut it out” means “Stop doing what you are doing” (It = what you are doing)

“Cut it off.” may have been exactly what I told a nurse one time. I’d broken my wrist and when I got to the hospital, the nurse wanted to pull my sweater off so that I could put “hospital clothing” on. But pulling that sweater over my broken wrist was far too painful and I made her “cut it off” rather than pull it off. (It = sweater)

Amy

[Haihao]

Thank you all. I guess I am made as clear as day. By the way,

Just one more relevant phrase: ‘have it in for’ (approx. = dislike)

In a certain context, how can I take this ‘it’ into my imagination?

haihao