0891 Cut the crap - English Idioms

Explanation

A blunt and often aggressive demand for someone to stop talking nonsense, making excuses, lying, or delaying, and get to the point or tell the truth.
Cut the bullshit is significantly stronger and more vulgar than Cut the crap.

Origin

Mid-20th century American English slang.
Crap and bullshit are both slang terms for nonsense, lies, or worthless talk.
Cut here means to stop or eliminate.
The phrase reflects impatience and a desire for directness and honesty.

Alternatives

Slang/Informal:

Quit jerking me around.
Stop playing games.
Spit it out. (Demand to say something withheld)
Keep it real. (Be honest)
Cut the malarkey. (Older, milder slang for nonsense)

Vulgar/Emphatic (Besides 'Cut the bullshit'):

Stop fucking around.
Quit your bullshit.
Enough of this shit.

Milder/More Professional:

Let's focus on the main issue.
Can we please get straight to the facts?
I need a direct answer, please.
Let's dispense with the formalities/pleasantries.

Situational Appropriateness

Highly informal and aggressive (Cut the bullshit is vulgar).
Use with extreme caution. Generally reserved for situations of high frustration or confrontation among people who know each other well, or when asserting authority forcefully (and risking negative reactions).
Cut the crap is slightly less offensive but still very direct and potentially rude.
**Completely inappropriate** in formal settings, polite company, or professional communication unless the context involves a very serious breakdown of trust and direct confrontation is intended.

Misunderstanding Warnings

The main misunderstanding isn't usually the meaning, but the *intensity*. Learners might use it in situations where it's far too aggressive or rude.
Emphasize the high level of confrontation and potential offense. Cut the bullshit is a swear phrase.

Examples

Alright, cut the crap. Did you finish the report or not?
(Angrily) I know you're lying to me. Cut the bullshit and tell me what really happened!
Let's cut the crap and talk about the real issues here.

Dialogue

Boss: You said the project would be done yesterday. What's the hold-up?

Employee: Well, you see, there were some unforeseen complications, and the team needed more time to align...

Boss: Cut the crap, Mark. Was it delayed because you didn't manage the timeline properly? Just tell me.

Employee: ...Yes. Okay. It was my oversight.

Response Patterns

(Defensively) Okay, okay! I was just explaining...
(Submissively) Alright, fine. The truth is...
(Angrily) Don't talk to me like that!
(Confused/Taken aback) What? What are you talking about?
Silence, followed by getting to the point.

Common Follow-up Questions/Actions

After the demand is made:

The person being addressed is expected to stop evasiveness and speak directly/truthfully.
The demander might follow up with a specific question (So, what's the real story?, Just give me a straight answer).

If the response is defensive or angry:

The situation can escalate into an argument.

Conversation Starter

No. Definitely not. It's used mid-conversation to express extreme frustration or demand honesty.

Intonation

Sharp, forceful, and often loud. Stress on CUT and CRAP/BULLSHIT. CUT the CRAP! or CUT the BULLSHIT!
Conveys annoyance, anger, or impatience.

Generation Differences

Widely understood, but the directness might be more common or accepted in certain informal subcultures or by more assertive personalities across generations. Use of bullshit is generally more common among adults.

Regional Variations

Common in American English. Also used and understood in other English-speaking regions (UK, Aus, etc.), though perhaps slightly less frequent than in the US.

A stitch in time saves nine

🎲 Who do you think you are?

[0891] Cut the crap