Cut to the chase

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Cut to the chase means to get to the point without wasting time.

The phrase originated from early silent films. Such films, particularly comedies, often climaxed in chase scenes. An inexpert screenwriter or director, unsure how to get to the climax, would just make an abrupt transition, known as a cut.

An earlier version of the phrase (recorded 1880-1940) was Cut to Hecuba. This refers to the practice of shortening matinée performances of Hamlet by cutting the long speeches before the reference to Hecuba in Act II, Scene ii.^[1]

[edit] Trivia

The phrase was referenced in The Pez Dispenser episode of Seinfeld in which George Costanza uses the phrase. Jerry Seinfeld abruptly derides him for using the phrase, implying that George must think he is a big-shot celebrity and that average people have no use for such a phrase.^[2]

[edit] External links

• The Phrase Finder
• Random House Publishers

[edit] references

1. ^ "A Dictionary of Catch Phrases", ed. Eric Partridge & Paul Beale, 2nd ed. 1985, p.59; ISBN 0-7102-0495-7
2. ^ Seinfeld: "The Pez Dispenser" Episode #314 information and script. SeinfeldScripts.com (January 15, 1992). Retrieved on 2007-03-11.