⛵ Cut and Run, To
To make a hasty departure. The term comes from the nautical practice of cutting a ship’s anchor cable to let it run before the wind, usually done only as an emergency measure. It was defined in Rigging and Seamanship (1794) as “to cut the cable and make sail instantly without waiting to weigh anchor.” It soon was used figuratively, as in Dickens’s Great Expectations (1861): “I’d give a shilling if they had cut and run.”
Anchored Alternatives
Related Terms:
- Head for the hills - To run away and hide, especially to avoid danger or law enforcement.
- Take to one’s heels - To run away swiftly, with a sense of urgency.
- Beat a hasty retreat - To leave quickly, especially to avoid danger or consequences.
- Bail out - To abandon ship or a difficult situation.
Synonyms:
- Skedaddle
- Scram
- Bolt
- Flee
- Fly the coop
Antonyms:
- Stand one’s ground
- Face the music
- Stay put
- Hold fast
Humor Aboard! 💬
🏃 “I don’t always run from my problems, but when I do, I make sure my sneakers are on!"
💨 “If I were any good at running away from things, I’d consider it a workout."
Literary Leeway 📚
- Charles Dickens - Great Expectations – Offers a rich tapestry of Victorian society entangled with the idiom.
- William Shakespeare – Seek the wisdom in his many nautical puns and escapes, like in Twelfth Night.
🎶 Smooth Sailing Tunes 🎶
- Paul Simon - 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover – For all the cutting and running you’ll ever need.
- Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone – Because when you cut and run, you often end up there!
Blockbuster Sentiments 🎦
- Cast Away - Watch Tom Hanks cut and run from conventional life, straight into survival and self-discovery.
- Pirates of the Caribbean - Adventure on the high seas with loads of cutting ties and high-tippling escape artistry.
Set sail on your next adventure with courage in your hold and laughter at your stern! And remember, sometimes the greatest discoveries happen when you cut the ties and ride the wind. 🌬️✨
Fairwinds, A. Serfin Breeze
