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• Fish or cut bait
  Fish or cut bait

  Make a decision now; stop hesitating. To cut bait is to stop fishing.
• fish or cut bait
  fish or cut bait

  Either proceed with an activity or abandon it completely. For example, You've been putting off calling him for hours; either fish or cut bait. This expression, often uttered as an imperative, alludes to a fisherman who should either be actively trying to catch fish or cutting up bait for others to use. It was first recorded in the Congressional Record (1876), when Congressman Joseph P. Cannon called for a vote on a bill legalizing the silver dollar: “I want you gentlemen on the other side of the House to ‘fish or cut bait.’” A vulgar synonym from the 1940s is shit or get off the pot.

Fish or cut bait

Cultural  

1. Make a decision now; stop hesitating. To cut bait is to stop fishing.

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fish or cut bait Idioms  

1. Either proceed with an activity or abandon it completely. For example, You've been putting off calling him for hours; either fish or cut bait. This expression, often uttered as an imperative, alludes to a fisherman who should either be actively trying to catch fish or cutting up bait for others to use. It was first recorded in the Congressional Record (1876), when Congressman Joseph P. Cannon called for a vote on a bill legalizing the silver dollar: “I want you gentlemen on the other side of the House to ‘fish or cut bait.’” A vulgar synonym from the 1940s is shit or get off the pot.

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Example Sentences

"You're going to have to tell me — this week," Kaplan shot back, urging Trump's attorney to "fish or cut bait."

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2023

“It is not a fish or cut bait moment,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Tuesday, describing the procedural vote as just a first step to ”get the ball rolling” as bipartisan talks progress.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 20, 2021

A: There really does come a time where one has to fish or cut bait.

From Slate • Apr. 6, 2021

"In the North American phrase - you either have the fish or cut bait," he says.

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2020

After all," he confided to the cuspidor, "it is up to the girl whether we fish or cut bait.

From Kindred of the Dust by Kyne, Peter B. (Peter Bernard)