informal #verb #Idioms #English #esl

fish or cut bait {v. phr.}, {informal}

1. Decide what you want to do and stop wasting time; either act now or give someone else a chance or turn.

Jack couldn't decide whether to go to college or get a job, so his father told him to fish or cut bait.

"Buy the kind of ice cream you want or give someone else in line a chance. Fish or cut bait!"

Compare: MAKE UP ONE'S MIND.

1. Either try hard and do your best, or quit.

Frank missed football practice so often that the coach told him to fish or cut bait. Categories: informal time verb