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cut the grass — mow the lawn

collocationB1IELTS 5+neutralcommon

to use a lawnmower or similar tool to make the grass in a garden or yard short and neat.

Say it like a native

Textbook I must trim the lawn vegetation this weekend.

Native I need to cut the grass this weekend.

'Trim the lawn vegetation' is bizarre; people 'cut the grass' or 'mow the lawn'.

Pattern: cut the grass

In use

  • I need to cut the grass before our guests arrive this afternoon.daily life
  • In my country, many people cut the grass in their gardens every week, especially during the summer.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ I have to cut the grasses.

✓ I have to cut the grass.

'Grass' is uncountable here — no plural.

Common collocations

  • cut the grass — mow the lawn, the front, every week, needs cutting

Don't confuse it

‘Cut the grass’ is more common in British English, while ‘mow the lawn’ is also widely used.

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