fish or cut bait
To proceed with an activity or abandon it altogether

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

fish or cut bait
to act or decide you are not going to do anything.
The time has come when you have to fish or cut bait — either you help us plan what to do or we will decide and go ahead without you.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

Fish or cut bait.
[American]
something that you say to someone when you want them to make a decision and take action without any more delay.
Your relationship's going nowhere. It's time to fish or cut bait.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

fish or cut bait
to do something yourself or quit and let someone else do it, to stop trying to do something
We told the men to fish or cut bait. If they did not want to buy the car then they should stop asking questions about it.

It was time to fish or cut bait so I decided to let someone else handle the problem.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲

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.
2. 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.

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲