trimming

Everyday

1. Trimming means cutting a little off something to make it tidy: trimming a hedge, trimming hair. tree →
2. Trimming (noun) is decoration added to the edge of something, like lace or ribbon on a dress. tree →
3. The trimmings are the extra foods served with a main dish, especially at Christmas dinner: turkey with all the trimmings. tree →
4. Trimmings are the small bits cut off. tree →
5. Trimming can mean reducing something a little: trimming costs. tree →

In the lessons

Everyday life: a haircut «just a trim», trimming the hedge, trimming your nails. Christmas in the UK, Ireland, Australia and NZ: «roast turkey with all the trimmings» (stuffing, roast potatoes, sprouts, pigs in blankets, gravy). Sewing and crafts: lace trimming. News: trimming a budget.

Examples

• Dad is trimming the hedge. tree →
• I need my fringe trimming. tree →
• We had turkey with all the trimmings. tree →
• The dress had gold trimming on the hem. tree →
• Put the grass trimmings in the compost. tree →
• The school is trimming its spending this year. tree →
• She is trimming the crusts off the sandwiches. tree →
• While the old man was busy, cutting and trimming the great blocks of stone, the lad would play among the chips. tree →

Note

Spelling: trim doubles the m: trimmed, trimming. «All the trimmings» is a fixed phrase. «Trimmings» (plural) is the usual form for food extras and cut-off bits.