E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Cut.
To renounce acquaintance. There are four sorts of cut—
1
(1) The cut direct is to stare an acquaintance in the face and pretend not to know him.
2
(2) The cut indirect, to look another way, and pretend not to see him.
3
(3) The cut sublime, to admire the top of some tall edifice or the clouds of heaven till the person cut has passed by.
4
(4) The cut infernal, to stoop and adjust your boots till the party has gone past.
5
There is a very remarkable Scripture illustration of the word cut, meaning to renounce: “Jehovah took a staff and cut it asunder, in token that He would break His covenant with His people; and He cut another staff asunder, in token that He would break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel” (Zech. xi. 7–14).
