--- optiview_delivery: edge_optimized content_type: semantic_markdown source_url: https://learnings.org/term/fish-or-cut-bait brand_content: none publication_version: "3.0" published_at: 2026-10-05T14:06:11Z composition_version: composition-v2.1.0 presentation_version: presentation-v1.2.0 --- # Fish or cut bait [Skip to content](https://learnings.org/term/fish-or-cut-bait#main-content) - [All](https://learnings.org/terms) - [2](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=2) - [3](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=3) - [8](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=8) - [A](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=A) - [B](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=B) - [C](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=C) - [D](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=D) - [E](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=E) - [F](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=F) - [G](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=G) - [H](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=H) - [I](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=I) - [J](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=J) - [K](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=K) - [L](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=L) - [M](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=M) - [N](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=N) - [O](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=O) - [P](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=P) - [Q](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=Q) - [R](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=R) - [S](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=S) - [T](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=T) - [U](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=U) - [V](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=V) - [W](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=W) - [Y](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=Y) - [Z](https://learnings.org/terms?letter=Z) A fishing metaphor that means "make a decision" but sounds more folksy and dramatic, usually said by people who have never actually fished. ### Examples Examples: - "It's time to fish or cut bait." (it's time to decide) - "We need to fish or cut bait on this." (we need to make a decision) - "Fish or cut bait, as they say." (make a decision) ### Tags fishingmetaphordecisionfolksydramatic 452 views • Created 7/7/2021 📢 Share Learnings ### Related Terms [ #### Make hay while the sun shines A farming metaphor used in business to mean "take advantage of good... 1745 views• farming, metaphor ](https://learnings.org/term/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines)[ #### Brain surgery A phrase used to dismiss complex tasks as simple, usually by people... 1744 views• dismissive, complexity ](https://learnings.org/term/brain-surgery)[ #### Level playing field A sports metaphor used in business to describe fair competition, usually said... 1550 views• sports, metaphor ](https://learnings.org/term/level-playing-field)[ #### Radio silent A phrase that means "not responding" but sounds more dramatic and mysterious,... 1472 views• responding, dramatic ](https://learnings.org/term/radio-silent)[ #### Multi-touch attribution A method of assigning credit to multiple marketing touchpoints that influenced a... 1425 views• credit, marketing ](https://learnings.org/term/multi-touch-attribution) Keep exploring the corporate jargon dictionary ## 🌍 In the Wild \+ Add Example No examples yet. Be the first to add one! ### 🤖 AI Tools 🎓 Translate with Professor📝 Open Writing Tools🎯 Play Buzzword Bingo 🎓 Ask the Professor ## Additional source context © 2008–2026 Learnings Dot Org — Speak fluent corporate. Ironically. ## Additional page links - [Make hay while the sun shines · A farming metaphor used in business to mean "take advantage of good... · 1745 views• farming, metaphor](https://learnings.org/term/make-hay-while-the-sun-shines) — Related Terms - [Brain surgery · A phrase used to dismiss complex tasks as simple, usually by people... · 1744 views• dismissive, complexity](https://learnings.org/term/brain-surgery) — Related Terms - [Level playing field · A sports metaphor used in business to describe fair competition, usually said... · 1550 views• sports, metaphor](https://learnings.org/term/level-playing-field) — Related Terms - [Radio silent · A phrase that means "not responding" but sounds more dramatic and mysterious,... · 1472 views• responding, dramatic](https://learnings.org/term/radio-silent) — Related Terms - [Multi-touch attribution · A method of assigning credit to multiple marketing touchpoints that influenced a... · 1425 views• credit, marketing](https://learnings.org/term/multi-touch-attribution) — Related Terms