Dic: cut something back, cut back on something, cut back

• They will be concerned to cut back expenditure on unnecessary items.
• The Government has cut back on defence spending.

PHRASAL VERB | If you cut back something such as expenditure or cut back on it, you reduce it.

Cf.

cut back: to turn back; to reverse direction.

• Suddenly, the bull cut back in our direction and began chasing us.
• The road cuts back about a mile ahead, and it goes west again.

... Cobuild, http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/cut+back