Heading
and steel watch-guards, promenading about, three abreast, with surprising dignity (or as the gentleman in the next box facetiously observes, 'cutting it uncommon fat!')
1841. Comic Almanack, 'Christmas Fair.' A goose, even tailors have, who cut it fat, And use the goose itself to get a flat.
1887. Baumann, Londonismen. 'A slang ditty,' p. v. But, there, it don't matter, Since to cut it still fatter, By 'ook and by crook Ve've got up this book.
Cut Mutton, verbal phr. (old).—To
partake of one's hospitality.
Cf., 'to break bread' with one.
1849. Thackeray, Pendennis, ch. xxxii. Bungay . . . hoped to have the pleasure of seeing both gents to cut mutton with him before long.
Cut Off One's Head, verbal phr.
(American political).—Used when
an official's term of office has
come to an end through change
of Government, or supercession
in other ways. Also to decapitate
and to behead.
1869. New York Herald, 5 Aug. 'The axe,' wrote a correspondent from Washington, 'is still doing its bloody work, and heads are flying off in all directions. The clerks in the Treasury Department begin to feel anxious, as the work of decapitation will soon make an end of them also.'
1872. Daily Telegraph, 5 Jan. 'Leader.' At the commencement of any fresh Presidency, hundreds of Democratic employés have their heads cut off to make room for Republicans who, in their turn, will be decapitated when the Democrats get the upper hand again.
Cut of One's Jib, subs. phr. (nautical).—The
general appearance.
[From the foremost sail of a ship,
which is frequently indicative of
a vessel's character. A strange
sail is judged by the cut of its
jib.]
1833. Marryat, Peter Simple [ed. 1846], vol. I., ch. ii., p. 9. I axes you because I see you're a sailor by the cut of your jib.
1835. Haliburton, Clockmaker, 3 S., ch. iv. For I seed by the cut of the feller's jib that he was a preacher.
1836. Michael Scott, Cruise of the Midge (ed. 18), p. 363. Oh, I see—there is a smart hand, in the gay jacket there, who does not seem to belong to your crew—a good seamen, evidently, by the cut of his jib.
1881. Buchanan, God and the Man, ch. xvi. By the voice of you, by the rigs of you, and by the cut of your precious jib.
1884. W. C. Russell, Jack's Courtship, ch. iii. My democratic wide-awake and the republican cut of my jib, said he looking down at his clothes.
Cut One's Cart, verbal phr.
(vagrants')—See quot.
1851-61. H. Mayhew, London Lab. and Lon. Poor, vol. I., p. 339. I've seen them doze and sleep against the door. They like to be there before anyone cuts their cart (exposes their tricks).
Cut One's Comb, verbal phr.
(common).—To snub; to lower
conceit.
1593. G. Harvey, Pierces Supererog., in wks. II., 283. Can . . . loue quench, or Zeale luke warme, or valour manicle, or, excellencie mew-vpp, or perfection geld, or supererogation combe-cutt itselfe?
1608. Middleton, Trick to Catch the Old One, IV., iv. To see ten men ride after me in watchet liveries, with orange-tawny caps,—'twill cut his comb, i' faith.
ed. 1717. Ned Ward, wks. II., 302. If you prate one word more, I shall slice a sliver off your coxcomb, and teach you a little more manners before I've done with you.
1822. Scott, The Fortunes of Nigel, ch. ii. I will take my own time; and all the Counts in Cumberland shall not cut my comb.
Cut One's Eyes, verbal phr.
(thieves').—To get suspicious.
Cut One's Eye (or Wisdom)
Teeth, verbal phr. (common).—To
learn 'what's what.' [A play
