# cut bait

idiom

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

## Meaning

To give up on something in order to pursue something else.

## Examples

- This project is failing, so it is time to cut bait.
- The investment was losing money every month, so we decided to cut bait and move our capital elsewhere.
- Realizing that the current strategy would never yield the desired results, the board chose to cut bait and pivot toward a more sustainable long-term vision.

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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.