手(て)を抜(ぬ)く

てをぬく
expression
to cut corners, to slack off
expression
1. to cut corners, to slack off, to do sloppy work
To not put in proper effort, doing something carelessly or incompletely to save time or effort.
手(て)を抜(ぬ)いた仕事(しごと)はすぐに分(わ)かる。
You can tell right away when work has been done sloppily.
忙(いそが)しいからといって手(て)を抜(ぬ)いてはいけない。
You shouldn't cut corners just because you're busy.
料理(りょうり)では絶対(ぜったい)に手(て)を抜(ぬ)かない。
I never cut corners when cooking.
掃除(そうじ)で手(て)を抜(ぬ)いたのがバレた。
They found out I did a sloppy job cleaning.
あの職人(しょくにん)は何十年(なんじゅうねん)も手(て)を抜(ぬ)かずに仕事(しごと)を続(つづ)けてきた。だからこそ信頼(しんらい)されている。
That craftsman has continued working without cutting corners for decades. That's why he's trusted.

Structure: 手(て) (hand) + を + 抜(ぬ)く (to pull out/remove). The image is of removing one's hand from the work.

Nuance: Generally negative - implies negligence or laziness. However, can occasionally be neutral when discussing efficiency or knowing where to save effort appropriately.

Negative form: 手(て)を抜(ぬ)かない (to not cut corners) - often used positively

Related words

RELATED WORDS (other 手(て) expressions):

Related Words

Related: 手(て)が離(はな)せない (too busy)
Related: 手抜(てぬ)き (cutting corners (noun))
Related: 手(て)を焼(や)く (have trouble with)
Related: 手(て)を打(う)つ (take measures)
Related: いい加減(かげん) (half-hearted, sloppy)
Compare: 気(き)を抜(ぬ)く (to let one's guard down)

Related Articles

Body-Part Idioms
core
Added 2026.1.18 19:03 · Revised 2026.10.11 16:18
06500/06905_tewonuku