What does “cut it fine” mean?

Meaning, example sentence and a quick practice question.

To leave yourself very little extra time before a deadline

“We cut it fine getting to the airport.”

From the C1 lesson Playing It by Ear (time and timing).

Quick check

What does “cut it fine” mean?

Teaching this phrase?“cut it fine” is part of a ready-to-teach lesson, with a reading, three exercises, speaking tasks and an answer key, in Everyday English Chunks C1 Pack 2 (Plans, Problems and Feelings).
See the C1 lesson pack

Or get all 32 lessons in the complete C1 course and save 25%.

Want to use phrases like this with confidence?Practice them in a one-to-one lesson with me, an experienced online English teacher.
Book a lesson

Related phrases

play it by earto decide how to handle something as it happens, without a fixed plan
at the drop of a hatimmediately, without any hesitation or planning
wing itto do something without preparation, improvising as you go
catch someone off guardto surprise someone when they aren't expecting it
a last-minute dasha rushed effort to do or get something right before a deadline
in the nick of timeat the very last possible moment, just before it's too late
on the spur of the momentsuddenly, without any planning in advance
jump the gunto act too early, before the right or appropriate moment
make it up as you go alongto invent a plan or approach while you're already doing something