cut and run
Abandon and escape
Cut and run means to flee abruptly, especially to escape a difficult situation rather than face it.
The phrase suggests abandoning commitments or responsibilities under pressure: When the project got complicated, he cut and ran.
Originally nautical—cutting an anchor cable to sail away quickly—it now implies cowardice or expedient retreat: The company cut and ran when profits dropped.
Flight from captivity
- boltThreaded rod for nuts
- fleeDepart swiftly from threat
- skedaddleDepart hastily, often fearfully
- hightailDepart with urgency
abscond · decamp · evacuate · exfiltrate · vanish · disappear · scram · split
To leave behind completely
- forsakeAbandon completely
- leaveSanctioned time away
- quitCease doing something
- relinquishVoluntarily give up control
surrender · withdraw · vacate · walk away · bail out · ditch · jettison · discard
Headlong and reckless
- abruptSharp and unexpected
- suddenOccurring without prior notice
- rashHeedless or skin irritation
- impulsiveActing without deliberation
panicked · headlong · rushed · snap decision · knee-jerk · unplanned · impromptu · spur-of-the-moment
Remove or pull away
- fall backWithdraw from advance
- pull backTo retreat or disengage
- disengageBreak free from attachment
- backpedalReverse one's stance
retire · recede · beat a retreat · strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · regroup · pull out · back off
escape
Flight from captivity
hightail · abscond · decamp · evacuate · exfiltrate · vanish · disappear · scram · split · bail
desert
To leave behind completely
relinquish · surrender · withdraw · vacate · walk away · bail out · ditch · jettison · discard · drop
precipitate
Headlong and reckless
impulsive · panicked · headlong · rushed · snap decision · knee-jerk · unplanned · impromptu · spur-of-the-moment · reactive
withdraw
Remove or pull away
backpedal · retire · recede · beat a retreat · strategic withdrawal · tactical retreat · regroup · pull out · back off · give ground
- departuresleave, depart, exit, leaving, go
- Nautical Idiomsbatten down the hatches, all hands on deck, smooth sailing, three sheets to the wind, in the same boat
- escapeescape, flee, get away, flight, breakout
- Escape Termsbreak free, get away, escape route, getaway, break out
- leavingdeparture, quit, walking away, withdrawing, bail
- disappearedvanished, disappeared, gone, vanish, faded
cut and runstand firm
Refuse to retreat
stand one's ground · stay the course · stick it out · hold fast · dig in
cut and runface the music
Accept deserved consequences
hold one's ground · confront · take a stand · face down · square off
cut and runown up
Acknowledge one's wrongdoing
take responsibility · answer for · stand and deliver · step up · stand by
run, cut, cutting, runner, running, runs, cuts, uncut, cutter