Cut your losses

Meaning

Stop investing effort or resources into something failing.

Usage

Used when abandoning unproductive ventures.

Origin & History

Origins and dates here are approximate summaries. Many idioms have disputed or unknown origins, and not every date has been checked against a historical dictionary, so treat specific dates and stories as a starting point rather than a citation.

Financial metaphor from stopping further damage after losses.

Popularized in business language in the mid-20th century.