cut losses
Exit before worse
To cut losses is to abandon a failing endeavor before it gets worse—selling a declining stock, ending a bad relationship, or walking away from a project that's consuming resources without return.
The phrase comes from trading, where cutting losses means selling at a small loss to prevent a larger one.
After three failed attempts, we decided to cut our losses and move on.
- bail outRescue from trouble
- stop the bleedingControl active hemorrhage
- exit strategyPreplanned departure method
- sell offDispose of assets quickly
- cash outConvert assets to money
walk away · jump ship · surrender · throw in the towel · retreat · damage control · write off · liquidate · salvage · fold · call it quits · abandon ship · pull the plug · swallow pride · admit defeat · regroup · live to fight another day · pivot
- decisionschoice, make a decision, choices, yes, no
- quittingquit, resign, resignation, stop, end
- strategystrategy, grand strategy, tactics, tactic, tactical
- desperate measureslast resort, desperate plea, desperation move, last ditch, last chance
- giving upgive up, giving up, quit, quitting, surrender
cut lossesdouble down
Strengthen one's stance
throw good money after bad · go all in · bet the farm · raise the stakes · stay the course
cut lossesthrow good money after bad
Investing further in failures
sunk cost fallacy · gambler's fallacy · dig in · denial · stubbornness
cut, cuts, cutting, cutter, cutters, loss, losses, lose, loses