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Discussion Groups / English Usage / May 2009To cut a date
Hello: "To cut a date," does this mean "not to show up" or "to cancel it in advance" ------- [Stringham fails to keep a date with Jenkins, in order to court a lady] He took a step forward, and made as if to pat may head, as one who makes much of an animal. 'There, there,' he said. 'Good dog. Don't growl. The fact is I am cutting your date. Cutting it in slow motion before your eyes.' A Dance to the Music of Time, Spring, by Anthony Powell, p. 155 -------  SignatureThanks. Marius Hancu > Hello: > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > 'There, there,' he said. 'Good dog. Don't growl. The fact is I am > cutting your date. Cutting it in slow motion before your eyes.' "to cut" is to skip something, or to fail to attend. IME, it's more usually said by US speakers about school classes "I cut class and stayed in bed". It's not all common in BrE - my example would not be heard here. SignatureDavid > > "To cut a date," > > does this mean [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > usually said by US speakers about school classes "I cut class and stayed > in bed". It's not all common in BrE - my example would not be heard here. Thanks. Marius Hancu > > Hello: > > [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > usually said by US speakers about school classes "I cut class and stayed > in bed". It's not all common in BrE - my example would not be heard here. The OED, definition 33, part c c. trans. To renounce, give up, absent oneself from, avoid (a thing). 1791 ?G. GAMBADO? Ann. Horsem. x. (1809) 109, I shall cut riding entirely. 1794 Gentl. Mag. Dec. 1085/1, I was told of men..who..cut chapel, cut gates, cut lectures, cut hall, cut examinations, [etc.]. c1814 in Whibley In Cap & Gown (1890) 104 Bid him not set me an imposition For cutting his lectures this morning at eight. 1835 E. CASWALL Art of Pluck (Oxford ed. 6) 37 He that cutteth chapel often. 1861 HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxf. vii. (1889) 59, I would cut the whole concern to-morrow. 1930 W. S. MAUGHAM Cakes & Ale iv. 49 She was prepared to cut an engagement in London. The last one looks very similar to the usage Marius is querying, which would be from the same period. SignatureLinz Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford My accent may vary On May 11, 8:24 am, Amethyst Deceiver <s...@lindsayendell.co.uk> wrote: > In article <C4RNl.27263$OO7.1...@text.news.virginmedia.com>, > usenet.om...@gEXPUNGEmail.com says... > > > "To cut a date," > > > does this mean [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > The last one looks very similar to the usage Marius is querying, which > would be from the same period. Right, thanks. Marius Hancu |
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