cut at

cut at (someone or something)

1. To strike out at someone or something with a knife. The knife was the only weapon I could think to grab, so I cut at the robber with it.
2. To intentionally cut away at something. The artisan cut at the block of wood to form an image.
See also: cut
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

cut at (someone or an animal)

to thrust a knife or something similar at someone or an animal. The hoodlum cut at me, but I dodged the blade. He cut at the dog, but it had no effect on the vicious animal.
See also: cut

cut at something

 and cut away at
to cut on something to slice something. He cut at the chair leg carefully, trying not to remove too much. Dad cut away at the turkey and asked us what part we wanted.
See also: cut
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • cut at (someone or something)
  • cut away at (someone or something)
  • knife
  • pull a knife
  • pull a knife on (one)
  • go under the knife
  • assail with
  • lunge for
  • lunge for (someone or something)
  • play a good knife and fork
References in periodicals archive
Turning tests are focused on machining by smooth cut at constant or variable depth of cut (Dobransky & Hatala, 2007), (Cep et al., 2008), (Jurko et al., 2009).
It concludes that these ceramic cutting inserts are suitable for interrupted cut at 0,15 mm feed.
Tungaloy ceramic cutting tools at interrupted machining
It means, that FX 105 and CX710 inserts have a high resistance and ability to perform an interrupted cut at 13MoCrV6 material.
Tungaloy ceramic cutting tools at interrupted machining
Surface roughness of a laser cut at stainless steels results primarily from rapid solidification of a thin film of the melt flowing out during cutting.
Laser cutting and acoustic emission signals
Introducing PTC Water Jet with linear drives that cut at more than 4000 in./min, double the speed of competing systems.
Cutting & trimming
What happens when the timber companies cut at 60 years is that they have to cut more than twice as much acreage as if they had waited!"
How to cut your forest and save it too
The factory edge is cut at the mill and is about as straight as you'll find.
Methods for cutting
A plastic part cut at room temperature will measure short if shipped in cold weather, and these length changes can be significant.
Cutting it close: improve your profile length tolerances