"cut down on" vs "cut down"
Hello,guys!

Those two phrases can both mean reducing something and I found "cut down on" is often used to talk about food intake .
For example, "you should cut down on sugar/coffee/fat etc.

Are those phrases interchangeable in other contexts?
For example," The country cut down on/ cut down waste production."

Thank you !

Question

"cut down on" vs "cut down"
Hello,guys!

Those two phrases can both mean reducing something and I found "cut down on" is often used to talk about food intake .
For example, "you should cut down on sugar/coffee/fat etc.

Are those phrases interchangeable in other contexts? 
For example," The country cut down on/ cut down waste production."

Thank you !

Answer

Thanks for your comment Alex

Answer

It's American English (so I can't comment on which is more correct!).  However, in UK English, we'd use 'reduce' or 'less' instead.  e.g. "You should eat less sugar".  "The country reduced its waste production".

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