| E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898. | | | | Cut. | | | | To renounce acquaintance. There are four sorts of cut— | 1 | | (1) The cut direct is to stare an acquaintance in the face and pretend not to know him. | 2 | | (2) The cut indirect, to look another way, and pretend not to see him. | 3 | | (3) The cut sublime, to admire the top of some tall edifice or the clouds of heaven till the person cut has passed by. | 4 | | (4) The cut infernal, to stoop and adjust your boots till the party has gone past. | 5 | | There is a very remarkable Scripture illustration of the word cut, meaning to renounce: “Jehovah took a staff and cut it asunder, in token that He would break His covenant with His people; and He cut another staff asunder, in token that He would break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel” (Zech. xi. 7–14). | 6 | | |
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