Literal origin

The phrase comes from the process of preparing a cut of meat for cooking.  A butcher or cook trims off the excess, unwanted fat to make the piece of beef cleaner and more desirable.  This practice removes unnecessary components, resulting in a more appealing product.

Metaphorical usage

Over time, the phrase ‘trimming the fat’ has transcended its literal origin, becoming a universally understood concept.  In a business or personal context, it signifies the timeless practice of removing unnecessary or non-essential parts to improve efficiency.

For companies, it often refers to cutting unnecessary expenses, reducing redundant staffing, or eliminating inefficient projects to increase profit or improve efficiency, empowering the company to take control of its resources and steer towards success.

• For projects, it can mean removing features or tasks that are not essential to the project’s core purpose, thereby streamlining the process.  This can lead to a more focused and efficient project, as resources are not wasted on non-essential elements.
• For individuals, it can refer to cutting back on personal, non-essential spending or eliminating wasteful habits to lead a more efficient life.  For example, trimming the fat from your budget by cutting out daily coffee shop visits can lead to significant savings over time. 
• For the government: Eliminate all non-essential employees who constitute 50% or more of the public workforce and start anew.

In organizations and government:

“Trimming the fat” refers to eliminating unnecessary expenses, inefficiencies, or non-essential elements within a company to enhance performance, reduce costs, and increase profits.  This optimization can involve reducing non-essential spending, streamlining processes, automating tasks, consolidating departments, or even decreasing staff to make the organization leaner and more efficient.

Here are some common examples of how businesses and governments “trim the fat”:

Reducing costs: 

Cutting back on overhead, eliminating unused services, or renegotiating supplier contracts. 

Improving efficiency: 

Automating manual processes, outsourcing non-core functions, or streamlining workflows to speed up operations. 

Eliminating waste: 

Getting rid of excess inventory, overproduced goods, or any resource that doesn’t directly add value for the customer.

Streamlining projects: 

Removing non-essential features from products or projects to reduce complexity and cost. 

Staffing adjustments: 

Reducing staff in departments that are not directly contributing to revenue or core functions.