$ echo "one:two:three:four:five:six" | cut -d : -f 1
one
$ echo "one:two:three:four:five:six" | cut -d : -f 4
four
$ echo "one:two:three:four:five:six" | cut -d : -f 1,4
one:four
$ echo "one:two:three:four:five:six" | cut -d : -f 4,1
one:four
$ echo "one:two:three:four:five:six" | cut -d : -f 1-4
one:two:three:four
$ echo "one:two:three:four:five:six" | cut -d : -f 4-
four:five:six
$