Cut into (phrasal verb):
1. To divide or penetrate by using a sharp-edged instrument or tool such as a knife, scissors, or a saw.
Example: The chef cut into the steak to check if it was cooked to perfection.
2. To interrupt or disrupt an ongoing activity, especially by inserting oneself or speaking unexpectedly.
Example: The teacher cut into the students' conversation and reminded them to focus on their work.
3. To decrease or reduce someone's share, profit, or resources.
Example: The company's expenses cut into their annual earnings, resulting in a lower profit margin.
4. To start using or consuming something, often reluctantly or sparingly.
Example: The family had to cut into their savings to cover unexpected medical expenses.
5. To make an incision or a surgical opening in a person or an animal for medical purposes.
Example: The surgeon carefully cut into the patient's abdomen to begin the procedure.
6. To reduce the available time for something, typically by requiring or demanding attention and effort.
Example: The urgent project cut into his weekend plans, forcing him to work overtime.
In various contexts, "cut into" refers to the act of dividing, interrupting, reducing, initiating, or constraining something. The specific meaning depends on the situation and the nouns or pronouns in the sentence.
