cut-and-run
Abandon and escape
Cut-and-run describes abandoning a situation hastily, especially to avoid difficulty or responsibility.
The phrase evokes someone cutting an anchor line to flee quickly rather than taking time to raise it properly.
Usually hyphenated as an adjective before nouns: a cut-and-run strategy, cut-and-run politics.
Often carries criticism of cowardice or irresponsibility: Critics accused the administration of a cut-and-run approach to foreign policy.
Depart swiftly from threat
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
- desertTo leave behind completely
- defectInherent imperfection or fault
- bailCourt-set release payment
quit · leave · vacate · forsake · abdicate · renege · relinquish · ditch
Swift departure or retreat
- flightAerial journey by aircraft
- dashQuick burst or pinch
- eludeSkillfully avoid capture
- evadeEscape by cunning
lam · on the run · hasty retreat · slip away · make a break · vanish · disappear · abscond
Sanctuary or withdrawal
- withdrawRemove or pull away
- pullbackWithdrawal or reduction
- disengageBreak free from attachment
- fallbackAlternative if primary fails
evacuation · exfiltration · tactical withdrawal · strategic retreat · redeployment · decampment · rout · bugout
Yield under pressure
- yieldProduce or relinquish
- submitPresent for consideration
- concedeAdmit something reluctantly
- give upStop attempting something
throw in the towel · white flag · cave in · fold · acquiesce · succumb · resign · admit defeat
Fearful lack of courage
- cravennessContemptible lack of bravery
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- gutlessnessLack of bravery
yellow-bellied · chickenhearted · faintheartedness · defeatism · cold feet · lily-livered · white feather · funk
flee
Depart swiftly from threat
bail · quit · leave · vacate · forsake · abdicate · renege · relinquish · ditch · dump
getaway
Swift departure or retreat
evade · lam · on the run · hasty retreat · slip away · make a break · vanish · disappear · abscond · skedaddle
retreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
fallback · evacuation · exfiltration · tactical withdrawal · strategic retreat · redeployment · decampment · rout · bugout · pull out
capitulate
Yield under pressure
give up · throw in the towel · white flag · cave in · fold · acquiesce · succumb · resign · admit defeat · raise the white flag
timidity
Fearful lack of courage
- cravennessContemptible lack of bravery
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- spinelessnessLack of courage
gutlessness · yellow-bellied · chickenhearted · faintheartedness · defeatism · cold feet · lily-livered · white feather · funk · weak-kneed
cut-and-runstand your ground
Refuse to back down
stay the course · hold firm · stick it out · persevere · dig in
cut-and-runface the music
Accept deserved consequences
take a stand · hold your ground · make a stand · confront · stand up
cutting, runner, running, runs, cuts, cutter, outrun, cutters, outran