cut and thrust
The use of vehement arguments.
Meaning adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
“They enjoy the cut and thrust of a good debate.”
“She handles the cut and thrust of the busy office very well.”
“I dislike the cut and thrust of family arguments during the holidays.”
“The committee meeting was intense, filled with the cut and thrust of competing ideas and sharp arguments.”
“Journalists often face the cut and thrust of political press conferences where reporters and officials argue over every detail.”
“You need a thick skin to survive the cut and thrust of high-level business negotiations where everyone wants a better deal.”
“He thrived in the cut and thrust of the courtroom, where every word served as a calculated move against his opponent.”
The term emerged as a metaphor for the technical movements of swordplay. It distinguishes between the cut, a stroke made with the edge of the blade, and the thrust, a sharp forward lunge made with the point. The construction entered English as a description of vigorous combat before being applied more broadly to the brisk exchanges of competitive debate.
- 01
clear cut
Straightforward, obvious, simple, or basic.
- 02
cut a dash
To make a display of oneself; to give a conspicuous impression.
- 03
cut a deal
To reach a negotiated agreement.
- 04
cut a figure
To present an image; to make an impression.
- 05
cut a rug
To dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half of the twentieth century.
- 06
cut a swath
Alternative form of cut a wide swath.
- 07
cut a wide swath
To behave in an expansive, flagrantly showy, or pushy manner, especially in public venues; to exert sweeping influence.
- 08
cut about
To go around (move from person to person).
Last updated August 10, 2026