# cut and thrust

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/cut-and-thrust
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The use of vehement arguments.

## Examples

- 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.

## Origin

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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.