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On the Cutting Room Floor

What Does "On the Cutting Room Floor" Mean?

homeidiomsOn the Cutting Room Floor
"On the cutting room floor" is an English idiom, referring to material, scenes, or content that have been removed, edited out, or discarded during the editing process, often in filmmaking.

Examples in Sentences

Here are three examples of the idiom "on the cutting room floor" used in a sentence:
  • Several scenes were left on the cutting room floor to ensure the film's pacing remained engaging.
  • The director had to make tough decisions about what to leave on the cutting room floor to meet the movie's runtime.
  • While editing the documentary, some interviews ended up on the cutting room floor to streamline the narrative.
meaning for on the cutting room floor

What Is an Idiom?

An idiom is a commonly used expression whose meaning does not relate to the literal meaning of its words. In other words, if you were to translate "On the Cutting Room Floor" word for word, there is no guarantee the translation would help you to understand the meaning.

An idiom often includes a cultural or historical context that makes it difficult for non-native English speakers to understand. A phrase is classified as an idiom when a direct translation of the words does not reveal the meaning. Most idioms rely on shared knowledge or experiences known only to a specific community.

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