Cut to the chase.....

[smudge]

.....I know it means 'to get to the point', but where does it originate? (I've heard both American & English people saying it).

[jno]

from films. Scripts are often spiced up with chase sequences (police cars, cowboys on horseback, intergalactic space destoryers etc); if they get boring editors may suggest cutting to the chase - that is, curtailing dialogue scenes etc and going to the chase scenes.

[smudge]

Thank you for your quick response jno - so now I know!

[jno]

of course Hollywood screenwriters probably spell destroyers better than I do.