Cut to the chase

Meaning

The idiom "cut to the chase" means to skip over unnecessary details or actions and get straight to the main point or most important information. It suggests that the speaker or listener is losing interest or getting impatient, so it's important to get to the good stuff quickly.

Usage

• I can't stand watching these long commercials for products I don't need. Can you cut to the chase and show me the real product?
• My boss hates meetings, but he always insists on making them as long as possible. Maybe we could cut to the chase and only invite people who have something important to say.
• I'm sorry, but I don't have time for your rambling stories about your childhood. Can you cut to the chase and tell me what happened?
• I've read enough books on the subject, thanks. Can you cut to the chase and explain what makes this one different?
• We have a lot of work to do before we can launch our new product, but let's cut to the chase and focus on what needs to be done now.

Roots and History

The origins of the idiom "cut to the chase" are uncertain, but it's believed to have originated in the early 20th century. One theory is that it comes from the world of theater, where actors would cut through unnecessary dialogue or actions to get to the important part of the play. Another theory is that it comes from the sporting world, where hunters would cut through underbrush or foliage to reach their target. Over time, the idiom has become more commonly used in everyday language to refer to any situation where someone wants to skip over unnecessary details and get to the point. It's also worth noting that there are regional variations of this idiom around the world, such as "jump to the chase" in British English or "let's cut to it" in American English.

Synonyms in English

• Get to the point
• Skip over the boring parts
• Cut through the red tape
• Focus on what matters
• Get down to business

Synonyms in other languages

• 跳过繁琐的部分 (Jump over the boring parts) - Mandarin Chinese
• 摊出重点 (Highlight the important points) - Mandarin Chinese
• 卸除不必要的步骤 (Remove unnecessary steps) - Mandarin Chinese
• 避免浪费时间 (Avoid wasting time) - Mandarin Chinese
• 加速处理 (Speed up processing) - Mandarin Chinese

Similar Idioms

• come to grief

• come what may

• cast aspersions