MEANING
To deal with the important part of a subject without spending time on less relevant details.
Use it for
asking someone to state the main point; shortening an indirect explanation; moving past preliminary detail; making a conversation more directAsks for the essential point without preliminary or distracting detail. Writing functions: Direct communication.
Words that belong together
- let’s cut to the chase
- cut straight to the chase
On the page
Let’s cut to the chase: can the archive be reopened this year?
She cut to the chase and asked what evidence would change his mind.
Word forms
- Base
- cut to the chase
Usage notes
Verbal idiom: cut/cuts/cut/cut/cutting to the chase. Common imperative: cut to the chase. Register: informal. Commonness: common (qualitative editorial estimate, informed by dictionaries/corpus).
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
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