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Wiktionary
cut and run

vb. 1 (context nautical English) To sail away quickly by cutting the yarns that hold the sails furled. 2 (context by extension English) To hurry away; to escape. 3 (context military English) To abandon a position as quickly as possible.

Wikipedia
Cut and run

Cut and run or cut-and-run is an idiomatic verb phrase meaning to "make off promptly" or to "hurry off". The phrase originated in the 1700s as describing an act allowing a ship to make sail quickly in an urgent situation, either by cutting free an anchor or by cutting ropeyarns to unfurl sails from the yards on a square rig ship. Though initially referring to a literal act, the phrase was used figuratively by the mid-1800s in both the United States and England. The phrase is used as a pejorative in political language, implying a panicked and cowardly retreat, and it has been used by politicians in the United States, Great Britain, and Australia as a criticism of calls to withdraw troops, becoming particularly associated with the United States Republican Party.

Cut and run (disambiguation)

Cut and run is a phrase meaning to "hurry off" typically used pejoratively in politics in reference to withdrawing troops from a conflict.

Cut and run may also refer to:

  • Cut and Run (film), a 1985 Italian film
Cut and Run (film)

Inferno in diretta, internationally released as Cut and Run and Amazon: Savage Adventure, is a 1985 Italian cannibal film directed by Ruggero Deodato.

Usage examples of "cut and run".

I thought, things go wrong, I can always just cut and run, no problem.

That can easily happen, you know, when you're an old man with a shaky wrist and a cloudy eye, too stiff in the joints even to cut and run.

I mean, even in disguise, you never know - I might have to cut and run, and I'd rather have two sound pins for that, what?

It was like walking with a badly wound up clockwork doll as we descended to the street, but once we were out in the sunshine and the chattering Broadway crowds she became easier, possibly because I showed no tendency to cut and run or bawl for a copper.

The leader who got 'em in this mess would never be able to show his face at a dance if he just cut and run.

When the numbers start moving into the neighborhood of five to one against you, it's time to cut and run, I always say.

And that's why I called ever'body together, now: We need to talk this whole thing out and figure what's going to be the best for us to do-cut and run up to that valley up or stand and fight the fuckers off here, then go up ttf the valley.