• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer
Zippy Facts Logo

Zippy Facts

Interesting Random Facts

  • Animals
  • Culture
  • Firsts
  • Food
  • Geography
  • Health
  • History
  • Inventions
  • Language
  • Mythology
  • Odds
  • People
  • Religion
  • Science
  • Space
  • Universe
  • World
You are here: Home / Language / Why Does the Phrase “Either Fish or Cut Bait” Mean “Make Up Your Mind”?

Why Does the Phrase “Either Fish or Cut Bait” Mean “Make Up Your Mind”?

March 28, 2020 by Karen Hill

There are two main jobs on a fishing boat.

One is to “cut bait,” which means to prepare or cut “junk” fish for a hook, or for “chum,” which is dumped in the water to attract other fish.

The second job is to do the actual fishing.

So the admonition “Either fish or cut bait” doesn’t mean either fish or cut your line.

It means make up your mind and decide which job you’re going to do, and just do it.

Related Facts

  • Where does the phrase “to fish or cut bait” come from and What does it mean?
  • Can Fish Get the Bends From Staying Underwater For Too Long?
  • Where do dinoflagellates come from and How is ciguatoxin food poisoning prevented?
  • Why Does Fish Cook So Much Faster Than Other Meats?
  • Why Does Fish Smell Fishy and Where Does the Odor Come From?
  • Do Fish Have Blood and Hearts, What Color Is Fish Blood, and Why Don’t Fish In Stores Have Blood?

Filed Under: Language

About Karen Hill

Karen Hill is a freelance writer, editor, and columnist. Born in New York, her work has appeared in the Examiner, Yahoo News, Buzzfeed, among others.

Previous Post: « Where Did the Expression “Wrong Side of the Tracks” Come From and What Does it Mean?
Next Post: Where Did the Expression “Put the Kibosh On it” Come From and What Does it Mean? »

Footer

Follow

  • Facebook
  • Flickr
  • GitHub
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Medium
  • Pinterest
  • StumbleUpon
  • Tumblr
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Categories

Accomplishments Animals Culture Firsts Food Geography Health History Inventions Language Mythology Odds People Religion Science Space Universe World Your Body

About

Zippy Facts empowers the world by serving educational content that is accessible to everyone.

A tribute to growing up, zippyfacts.com showcases interesting and unusual facts about the world.

Our mission is to use technology to facilitate knowledge transfer and sharing.

Copyright © 2020 Zippy Facts

  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy