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

And while other artists of her caliber would rest on familiar songs or arrangements, Carey continues to push herself with musical director Daniel Moore, to offer deep cuts for the fans, while reinventing her hits in new and novel ways. —Tim Chan, Billboard, 15 Apr. 2024

For a real locals-only deep cut closer to downtown and the Seaport, set your sights on South Boston (affectionately, Southie), where a waterfront run around the Pleasure Bay and over to grassy Castle Island—especially at dawn or dusk—is a surprisingly serene experience. —Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Apr. 2024

Roger Daltrey is coming to America in June for a rare solo tour that will feature an onstage Q&A with audience members, Who hits and deep cuts, and selections from his solo career. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 Mar. 2024

Since then, multiple automakers have instituted deep cuts in North American and European design centers to reduce global costs. —Steve Tengler, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

That claim and her announcement that after 14 months of Musk’s ownership and deep cuts to trust and safety the company was now hiring new moderators raised the eyebrows of social platform experts and former Twitter employees. —Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 1 Feb. 2024

Lewis later told reporters that the management plan presented by the three Lower Basin states involves deep cuts at the lower levels of reservoir storage, which the river seems likely to reach. —The Arizona Republic, 24 Mar. 2024

Like Bonnie and Clyde, Barbie taps into escapist nostalgia; one of the pleasures of the movie, as well as the publicity tour, was recognizing deep cuts from the doll’s 65-year fashion history. —Kimberly Chrisman-Campbell, The Atlantic, 10 Mar. 2024

This is a deep cut: Abraham Lincoln pardoned Biden's ancestor. —USA TODAY, 20 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1993, in the meaning defined at sense 1