cut to the chase
Meaning
Get to the main point immediately, skipping unnecessary details or preliminaries.
Origin
From early Hollywood films where action scenes included a chase; “cut to the chase” meant skip the slow buildup and jump straight to the exciting pursuit.
Notes
Casual and direct; often a prompt when someone is rambling. Implies impatience or time pressure, so it can sound blunt in formal or sensitive situations.
Examples
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We’re short on time, so let’s cut to the chase—what’s the decision?
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He cut to the chase and told me he wasn’t going to renew the contract.
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Instead of giving a long backstory, she cut to the chase and explained the problem.
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Can you cut to the chase and tell us how much this will cost?
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I’ll cut to the chase: I need your approval by Friday.
Grammar & Usage Notes
Fixed phrase. Commonly used as an imperative (“Cut to the chase.”) or with “let’s” (“Let’s cut to the chase.”). Limited inflection; not usually reworded.
Synonyms
- get to the point
- come to the point
- skip the preamble
- get down to business
- cut the fluff
Antonyms
- beat around the bush
- ramble on
- bury the lede