[Colloq.]

An English tradesman is always solicitous to cut the shop whenever he can do so with impunity. --Thomas Hamilton.

To cut a caper. See under Caper.

To cut the cards, to divide a pack of cards into portions, in order to determine the deal or the trump, or to change the cards to be dealt.

To cut a dash or a figure, to make a display. [Colloq.]

To cut down.
   (a) To sever and cause to fall; to fell; to prostrate. ``Timber . . . cut down in the mountains of Cilicia.'' --Knolles.
   (b) To put down; to abash; to humble. [Obs] ``So great is his natural eloquence, that he cuts doun the finest orator.'' --Addison
   (c) To lessen; to retrench; to curtail; as, to cut down expenses.
   (d) (Naut.) To raze; as, to cut down a frigate into a sloop.

To cut the knot or the Gordian knot, to dispose of a difficulty summarily; to solve it by prompt, arbitrary action, rather than by skill or patience.

To cut lots, to determine lots by cuttings cards; to draw lots.

To cut off.
   (a) To sever; to separate.

I would to God, . . . The king had cut off my brother's. --Shak.
   (b) To put an untimely death; to put an end to; to destroy. ``Iren[ae]us was likewise cut off by martyrdom.'' --Addison.
   (c) To interrupt; as, to cut off communication; to cut off (the flow of) steam from (the boiler to) a steam engine.
   (d) To intercept; as,, to cut off an enemy's retreat.
   (e) To end; to finish; as, to cut off further debate.

To cut out.
   (a) To remove by cutting or carving; as, to cut out a piece from a board.
   (b) To shape or form by cutting; as, to cut out a garment. `` A large forest cut out into walks.'' --Addison.
   (c) To scheme; to contrive; to prepare; as, to cut out work for another day. ``Every man had cut out a place for himself.'' --Addison.
   (d) To step in and take the place of; to supplant; as, to cut out a rival. [Colloq.]


   (e) To debar. ``I am cut out from anything but common acknowledgments.'' --Pope.
   (f) To seize and carry off (a vessel) from a harbor, or from under the guns of an enemy.

To cut to pieces.
   (a) To cut into pieces; as, to cut cloth to pieces.
   (b) To slaughter; as, to cut an army to pieces.

To cut a play (Drama), to shorten it by leaving out passages, to adapt it for the stage.

To cut rates (Railroads, etc.), to reduce the charges for transportation below the rates established between competing lines.

To cut short, to arrest or check abruptly; to bring to a sudden termination. ``Achilles cut him short, and thus replied.'' --Dryden.

To cut stick, to make off clandestinely or precipitately. [Slang]

To cut teeth, to put forth teeth; to have the teeth pierce through the gum and appear.

To have cut one's eyeteeth, to be sharp and knowing. [Colloq.]

To cut one's wisdom teeth, to come to years of discretion.

To cut under, to undersell; as, to cut under a competitor in trade.

To cut up.
   (a) To cut to pieces; as, to cut up an animal, or bushes.
   (b) To damage or destroy; to injure; to wound; as, to cut up a book or its author by severe criticism. ``This doctrine cuts up all government by the roots.'' --Locke.
   (c) To afflict; to discourage; to demoralize; as, the death of his friend cut him up terribly. [Colloq.]

--Thackeray.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)