Clip vs Cut vs Detach vs Slice

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Clip

Top 3,000 (common) B2 noun

Cut

High-frequency chunk A1 verb

Detach

Top 5,000 (fairly common)

Slice

Top 2,000 (common) B1 noun

Most common: Cut

	Clip	Cut	Detach	Slice
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/klɪp/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/klɪp/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/kʌt/","/kʌts/","/ˈkʌtɪŋ/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kʌt/","/kʌts/","/ˈkʌtɪŋ/"]/	🇬🇧 //dɪˈtætʃ// 🇺🇸 //dɪˈtætʃ//	🇬🇧 /["/slaɪs/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/slaɪs/"]/
Meaning	A small piece cut from something.	To use a sharp tool to make something separate into pieces.	To separate or remove something.	To cut something into thin pieces.
Example	I used a plastic clip to hold my papers together.	Please cut the paper along the dotted line.	You need to detach the battery before storing the device.	I would like a slice of chocolate cake, please.
Register	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 3,000 (common)	High-frequency chunk	Top 5,000 (fairly common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B2	A1	-	B1
Part of speech	noun	verb		noun
Collocations	brief, short, film, see, view, watch, in a/​the clip, clip from, bicycle, hair, nose, attach, fasten, put, hold something, ammo, ammunition, empty, empty, load, unload	thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose, thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose, thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose, thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose, thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose, considerably, dramatically, drastically, try to, manage to, be forced to, by, from, to, thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose, thick, thinly, cleanly, from, into, off, cut and paste, cut somebody/​something free, cut somebody/​something loose	detach from an object, detach yourself, detach a part, detach a connection, detach an attachment	big, generous, great, cut, eat, in slices, slice of, cut something into slices, big, huge, large, carve, carve out, get, slice of, a slice of life, a slice of the action, a slice of the pie
Antonyms	attach, join	join, combine, attach	attach, fasten, connect	combine, whole, join
Common mistakes	Confusing 'clip' with 'clap'., 'Clip' used as a noun and verb incorrectly., Using 'clip' in casual contexts when a formal term is needed.	'Cutting' as a noun incorrectly (e.g. 'I will do a cut)., Confusing 'cut' with 'cut off' (which has a different meaning)., Using 'cut' with non-physical objects (e.g. 'cut a conversation' should be avoided).	Confused with 'detach from' vs 'detach', Using 'detached' when a continuous action is being described, Forgetting to specify what is being detached	Confused with 'dice' when referring to cutting food., Used as a standalone verb without an object., Misunderstanding the past tense, using 'sliced' incorrectly.
Usage notes	Use 'clip' to refer to cutting things or attachments. It's more common in practical contexts, but avoid using it for formal writing.	Use 'cut' in everyday situations related to slicing or dividing. It's appropriate in both casual and professional contexts, but be careful not to use it in overly formal writing.	Use 'detach' when discussing separating objects or ideas. It's neutral and suitable for both formal and informal contexts.	Commonly used in cooking contexts, but can also mean to cut through something in a figurative sense, like slicing through a problem. Avoid using it in metaphorical contexts where 'cut' might be more appropriate.

See it in real clips

Hey, I kept a scrapbook of your clippings and everything.

Clip

Cut it out! Cut it out! Cease fire!

Or, that's left after a new hair cut and a new suit,

Cut it out! Cut it out! Cease fire!

Or, that's left after a new hair cut and a new suit,

Cut

Detach.

Detach

- After that, I'm going to have a slice of pie. - Pie for breakfast ?

Slice

Frequently asked questions: Clip vs Cut vs Detach vs Slice

What's the difference between Clip, Cut, Detach, and Slice?

Clip: A small piece cut from something. Cut: To use a sharp tool to make something separate into pieces. Detach: To separate or remove something. Slice: To cut something into thin pieces.

Which is more common: Clip, Cut, Detach, and Slice?

Cut is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Clip, Cut, Detach, and Slice?

Clip is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Can you show an example of each?

Clip: I used a plastic clip to hold my papers together. Cut: Please cut the paper along the dotted line. Detach: You need to detach the battery before storing the device. Slice: I would like a slice of chocolate cake, please.

Can I use Clip, Cut, Detach, and Slice interchangeably?

Not always. Clip, Cut, Detach, and Slice are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.