1. cut and run - Noun
2. cut and run - Verb
(nautical) To cut the anchor cable and not wait to weigh it.
(by extension) To hurry away; to escape.
(military) To abandon a position as quickly as possible.
They held on as long as they could, but when the heavy artillery fire started, they had to cut and run.
The President laid out the scenario we face if the United States decides to cut and run.
cut-and-run (plural cut-and-runs)
A hurried escape or abandonment.
cut-and-run
We cannot cut and run. If we are to ensure freedom and democracy, it is essential that we follow through on our obligation to bring about stability in Iraq. Richard Shelby
If the United States were to cut and run from Iraq, we would send a message of weakness that would embolden our terrorist enemies across the globe. A failed Iraq would destabilize the entire region and undermine U.S. national security for decades to come. Dennis Cardoza
Now the fact that terrorists throughout the world see this as an opportunity to defeat the United States, we have to be - and every Democratic candidate, even those who opposed us going in, now say we just simply can't cut and run. Al D'Amato