Guide 182 / 200 4 alternatives 2-minute read

Better ways to say “to cut to the chase”

Hollywood jargon for skipping to the action scene — now jargon for skipping to the point.

i · Why avoid itTwo lines, no filler

Coined by silent-era film editors who jumped from dialogue to the chase reel. In writing, the phrase itself delays the point it promises to deliver. Make the cut without narrating it.

ii · Before & afterDrop-in demo

Before

To cut to the chase, we're going to raise prices.

After

We're going to raise prices.

iii · The alternatives4 ways out

01

The point is neutral

promise the point

The point is, we're raising prices.
02

Bottom line: informal

memo-style lead

Bottom line: we're raising prices.
03

Short version: informal

friendly TL;DR

Short version: we're raising prices.
04

[delete it] neutral

make the cut directly

We're raising prices.

iv · Brew tipKeep this one

Cutting to the chase and announcing the cut are two different things.