1. He was trying to curry .......... with his boss by being the first one in the office every day.

2. I love to go with George to bars that play country dance music. He sure can cut a .........., Jessica told Helen.

3. I bought a Japanese-made car because I believe that they are a .......... above their American-made counterparts.

4. For Jim, the issue was pretty cut and .......... : "Cooking the books is stealing, no matter how you put it".

5. The boss didn't think too highly of the new employee. He was lazy and cut .......... whenever possible.

6. Wow, Jim, you'd better start working on your articles sooner. You cut your deadline pretty .......... this week, Emma said.

7. The deadline's too near to include all the boss's statistics, but if I'm late on my project I will get in trouble too. It's like cutting off my nose to spite my .......... .

8. I wish my boss would cut me some .......... . I already have too much work to do and I even take work home — but it's never enough, Mary complained to Chris.

9. Good job, Chris. You really cut the Gordian .......... with your solution. You solved a complex problem with a simple, easy fix, his boss said.

10. I bought a Harbor Freight electric drill, but it just doesn't cut the .......... . It doesn't have enough power, and the battery dies quickly.