cutting one's losses
Quitting while behind
Cutting one's losses means accepting a partial setback to prevent greater damage.
The phrase comes from investing—selling a declining stock before it falls further—but applies broadly to any situation where continuing would only make things worse: After three failed attempts, she cut her losses and tried a different approach.
The decision involves recognizing when persistence becomes stubbornness.
- sunk costUnrecoverable past outlay
- letting goReleasing one's grasp
- throwing in the towelAccepting defeat, stopping effort
- risk managementIdentifying and minimizing threats
- pivotingRotating around fixed point
moving on · fresh start · acceptance · capital preservation · contingency planning · liquidation · detachment · resource allocation · opportunity cost · prioritization · folding · self-care · forgiveness · exit strategy · bail out · pull the plug · quitting · walking away
cutting one's lossesdoubling down
Strengthening a risky commitment
throwing good money after bad · chasing losses · going all in · betting the farm · raising the stakes
cutting one's lossessunk cost fallacy
Honoring spent resources irrationally
going down with the ship · chasing losses · beating a dead horse · flogging a dead horse · pot committed
cutting one's lossesgoing for broke
Wagering everything you have
playing with fire · rolling the dice · swinging for the fences · upping the ante
cutter, cutters, cutting, cuttings, oneness, losses, loses, losers