cut it on
Turn something on, Southern style.
Also called cut on, cut the light on.
Updated September 21, 2026
cut it on pronunciation
/kut it AWN/
Meaning
Cut it on means flip the switch, start the fan, or wake up the TV. In Southern and South Midland talk, cut pairs with on and off the way other folks say turn. Lights, stoves, heaters, and truck AC all get cut on around the house.
How folks use it
- “Cut it on; I can't see a thing in this kitchen.”
- “Cut the porch light on before you walk out to the truck.”
Origin and etymology
DARE maps cut on and cut off as chiefly Southern and South Midland for turn on and turn off. Writers like Faulkner put the phrasing in Mississippi dialogue early in the 1900s. Some link it to older "cut" talk for valves and switches; either way it stuck as everyday porch English.
Frequently asked questions
Does cut mean slice here?
No. Here cut just means operate the switch. Pair it with off and you've got the other half.