deep cut

noun

plural deep cuts

1

music : a song that is considerably less popular and well-known than other songs on the same album or by the same artist

From there, the band careened through highlights and the occasional deep cut from its catalog …

—Mikael Wood

But the rocker saw an opportunity to turn casual fans on to his deep cuts—so each disc intersperses hits with lesser-known album tracks in non-chronological order.

—David Browne

2

: something (such as an obscure reference to a book or movie) that is recognizable to devotees but not usually to others

One of the fun things about being a Marvel fan is the franchise's ability to constantly surprise its audience with comic book deep cuts, surprising castings, and twists that no one sees coming.

—Alexis Nedd

deep-cut adjective

a deep-cut reference/joke

Examples of deep cut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The first 100 days of President Trump’s second term have been a whirlwind of action, with the imposition of steep tariffs worldwide, the detention of immigrants and deep cuts to the federal work force. —The New York Times, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025

Kevin Lamarque | Reuters Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s overhaul of the Department of Health and Human Services involves deep cuts to several divisions that help protect and improve the health of minority and underserved populations and eliminate health disparities in the U.S., CNBC has learned. —Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 30 Apr. 2025

Pulled from recording sessions that took place across a pivotal four-year period, the collection highlights rarities, alternate versions, and deep cuts that hardcore fans will appreciate. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

California Mayor Karen Bass weighs deep cuts, including layoffs, as L.A.’s challenges mount April 20, 2025 Bass celebrated the speed of fire recovery efforts on Monday, saying that utilities were restored to Pacific Palisades far faster than after previous California fires. —Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025

As Congress debates budget bills proposing deep cuts in federal spending, Biden-era tax credits for clean energy have gained crucial support among some Republican lawmakers and voters. —Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Apr. 2025

From deep cuts to guilty pleasures, each guest peels back the layers of the songs that left a mark on them — for better or worse. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 22 Apr. 2025

The tour will feature classics and deep cuts from the records, along with selections from 2024’s Aghori Mhori Mei. —Tyler Jenke, Billboard, 1 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for deep cut

• abut
• catgut
• chesnut
• chestnut
• donut
• doughnut
• groundnut
• haircut
• hindgut
• midgut
• precut
• rebut