cut a rug

English

Alternative forms

• cut the rug

Pronunciation

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Verb

cut a rug (third-person singular simple present cuts a rug, present participle cutting a rug, simple past and past participle cut a rug)

1. (idiomatic) To dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half of the twentieth century.
   • 1991 December 15, Ron Alexander, “A Step Back to Supper Clubs and Swing”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 September 2008:

     Young-generation patrons seem to be as fascinated watching the more mature dancers cut a rug.

   • 2002, “Boogie 2nite”, in Southern Hummingbird, performed by Tweet:

     Came here to get ya, but I can't wait / To grab me a partner and cut a rug up tonight

   • 2009, “Hey, Soul Sister”, in Save Me, San Francisco, performed by Train:

     The way you can cut a rug, watching you's the only drug I need.

   • 2012, “Last Days of Disco”, performed by Saint Etienne:

     Let's dance / Cut a rug together / Looking at forever / It's the way that I want it to be

   • 2017, “When The World Was At War We Kept Dancing”, in Lust for Life, performed by Lana Del Rey:

     Shake it up, throw your hands up and get loose / Cut a rug, lean into the fuckin' youth

Translations

to dance vigorously

• German: eine flotte Sohle aufs Parkett legen
• Russian: отпля́сывать (ru) n (otpljásyvatʹ)

See also

• bust a move
• cut the pigeon wing