collocation · neutral

cut down on sugar

UK/kʌt daʊn ɒn ˈʃʊɡə/US/kʌt daʊn ɑn ˈʃʊɡər/CUT down ON SUG·ar

Band 4-5task2speaking

to reduce the amount of sugar you eat or drink

Examples

Doctors often tell patients to cut down on sugar to control their weight.

If you cut down on sugar now, you may avoid health problems later.

I try to cut down on sugar by choosing unsweetened yogurt.

Band 8 sentence

Public-health initiatives that encourage citizens to cut down on sugar have demonstrably lowered rates of diabetes in several countries.

Collocations

  • cut down on sugary drinks
  • cut down on processed sugar

Word family

cut down (on) phrasal verbsugar noun

Common mistakes

reduce sugarcut down on sugar

cut down sugarcut down on sugar

Say it for a higher band

5eat less sugar6reduce sugar7+cut down on sugar

Synonyms

reduce sugar intake

Easily confused

reduce sugar intake

The campaign encourages people to reduce sugar intake for better dental health.

Related words

Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.

In Health & Fitness

Learn it with its set