Alice: Ugh, it’s so hot today! Let’s go get some ice cream to cool off.
Jen: I wish but I can’t! I gained 10 pounds in the last couple of months and my doctor advised me to cut down on sugar and fat.
Alice: If your doctor told you to cut down on sugar and fat, then we definitely can’t get ice cream.

본문에서 Alice가 “Ugh! It’s so hot today. Let’s go get some ice cream to cool off. 어휴, 오늘 무척 덥네! 아이스크림 먹으면서 열기 좀 식히자.”라고 하자 제가 “I wish but I can’t! 그랬으면 좋겠는데 난 안돼! I gained 10 pounds in the last couple of months and my doctor advised me to cut down on sugar and fat. 지난 몇 달 동안 몸무게가 10파운드나 늘었고, 의사가 당분과 지방 섭취를 줄이라고 했어.” 라고 했습니다.

이어 Alice가 “If your doctor told you to cut down on sugar and fat, then we definitely can’t get ice cream. 그래, 의사가 그랬으면 아이스크림은 먹으면 안 되겠구나.”라고 대답하더라고요. 오늘 표현 ‘cut down on’잘 알아두시고요 오늘의 대화를 다시 한번 들어보겠습니다.

Alice: Ugh, it’s so hot today! Let’s go get some ice cream to cool off.
Jen: I wish but I can’t! I gained 10 pounds in the last couple of months and my doctor advised me to cut down on sugar and fat.
Alice: If your doctor told you to cut down on sugar and fat, then we definitely can’t get ice cream.

Today’s expression is cut down on. To cut down on something means to decrease or lessen the amount of something. Cut down on 은 ‘무엇을 줄이다, 감소시키다, 자제하다’라는 뜻입니다.

오늘 본문에서 Alice가 더위를 식히기 위해 아이스크림 사 먹으러 가자고 제게 말하자, 저는 의사가 당분과 지방 섭취를 줄이라고 해서 아이스크림은 못 먹는다고 했죠. “and my doctor advised me to cut down on sugar and fat.” 라고요. 이렇게 무엇을 줄여야 할 때 쓸 수 있는 표현이 바로 ‘cut down on’입니다.

이제 예문을 들어볼까요? "Could you try and cut down on smoking. It’s not healthy for you.”라고 하면 “담배 좀 줄이시는 게 좋을 것 같아요. 몸에 나쁘잖아요.”라는 뜻입니다. Now you know what today’s expression means, let’s listen to the conversation for the last time.

Alice: Ugh, it’s so hot today! Let’s go get some ice cream to cool off.
Jen: I wish but I can’t! I gained 10 pounds in the last couple of months and my doctor advised me to cut down on sugar and fat.
Alice: If your doctor told you to cut down on sugar and fat, then we definitely can’t get ice cream.

Let’s review. To cut down on something means to decrease or lessen the amount of something. CUT DOWN ON. Now try using this expression on your own.