Cut and run

Cut and run
For other uses, see Cut and run (disambiguation).

Cut and run is a pejorative[citation needed] phrase used in the context of a war or battle meaning cowardly retreat.[citation needed] Thus, stripped of emotional connotation, the phrase simply means withdraw or retire from the conflict at issue[citation needed]. The added pungency of the phrase comes from the partially obscured implication that this withdrawal is a course only undertaken by dishonorable fools whose fear and confusion has overcome their better judgment.[citation needed]

According to William Safire the phrase, suggesting panic, "is always pejorative. Nobody, not even those who urge leaders to 'bring the troops home,' will say, 'I think we ought to cut and run."[1]

Eugene McCarthy used the phrase as follows: "As [the Vietnam war] continued to go badly, its advocates became more defensive. The motives of those who spoke out against the war were questioned, as was their patriotism, and in the case of the Democrats their loyalty to the party. Critics were called 'nervous Nellies' and 'special pleaders,' and, in the language of cattle handlers, as ready to 'cut and run.'" (Quoted by Bob Herbert in the New York Times, December 15, 2005.)

Congresswoman Jean Schmidt used the phrase in the U.S. house of Representatives on November 18, 2005: "A few minutes ago, I received a call from Colonel Danny Bubp, Ohio representative from the 88th District in the House of Representatives. He asked me to send Congress a message: Stay the course. He also asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message: that cowards cut and run, Marines never do."

Schmidt's remarks were immediately criticized and within ten minutes, she withdrew them and apologized. Karen Tabor, Bubp's spokeswoman, said Bubp "did not mention Congressman Murtha by name nor did he mean to disparage Congressman Murtha...He feels as though the words that Congresswoman Schmidt chose did not represent their conversation." [2] Bubp told the Cincinnati Enquirer that he never mentioned Murtha by name when talking to Schmidt and would never call another US Marine a coward. Bubp later said, "I don't want to be interjected into this. I wish she never used my name."

The phrase originates in nautical usage. The OED quotes Elements and Practice of Rigging and Seamanship (1794) which defines the phrase to mean "to cut the cable and make sail instantly, without waiting to weigh anchor." Here cable refers to the anchor line, hence the anchor is lost. Run is used in the sense of "to sail downwind". In nautical usage however the term does not necessary carry the pejorative sense because cutting and running is sometimes imperative to save the ship in the case of an approaching storm for example.

John Howard, the Prime Minister of Australia said "we are not going to cut and run from Iraq Mr Speaker".

U.S. president George W. Bush used this phrase to describe those who support the withdrawal of US forces from Iraq[citation needed].

United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton stated the United States would not "cut and run" from Afghanistan.

References

  1. ^ William, Safire (2004-05-02). "The Way We Live Now: 5-2-04: On Language; Cut and Run". New York Times. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C05E5DA1F3AF931A35756C0A9629C8B63. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 
  2. ^ Cloud, David (2005-11-22). "Lawmaker Returns Home, a Hawk Turned War Foe". New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/22/politics/22murtha.html?pagewanted=all. Retrieved 2008-11-08. 

See also

  • Roller hockey A phrase used in roller hockey when an exceptional player breaks away with the puck, and scores a goal.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • cut and run — {v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation. * /When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to cut and run./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cut and run — {v.}, {informal} To abandon an unfavorable situation. * /When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to cut and run./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • cut and run — If people cut and run, they take what they can get and leave before they lose everything …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • cut and run — ► cut and run informal make a speedy departure from a difficult situation rather than deal with it. [ORIGIN: originally a nautical phrase, meaning «cut the anchor cable because of an emergency and make sail immediately».] Main Entry: ↑cut …   English terms dictionary

  • cut and run — phrasal 1. : to cut mooring cables and sail before the wind 2. : to hurry off abruptly hearing the alarm, the gang cut and ran * * * cut and run To be off or escape quickly • • • Main Entry: ↑cut * * * cut and run in …   Useful english dictionary

  • cut and run — in. to stop what one is doing and flee. □ The cops were coming, so we cut and run. □ At the first warning, we cut and run …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

  • cut and run — verb a) To sail away quickly by cutting the yarns that hold the sails furled. They held on as long as they could, but when the heavy artillery fire started, they had to cut and run. b) To hurry away; to escape. President Bush laid out the… …   Wiktionary

  • cut and run — to avoid a difficult situation by leaving suddenly. He had learned as a boy that there is a time to stay and fight and a time to cut and run …   New idioms dictionary

  • cut\ and\ run — v informal To abandon an unfavorable situation. When the price of coffee dropped sharply many investors wanted to cut and run …   Словарь американских идиом

  • cut and run — informal to get out of a situation when it becomes too difficult or unpleasant When she got pregnant, he cut and run …   English dictionary

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