cut loose

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

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

1. (idiomatic, intransitive) To behave in an uncontrolled manner.
   1. To party without restraint.
      • 1962, Elvis Presley, Relax:

        Cut loose, let your hair down honey
        Unwind, turn the lights down low
        Relax, let's uncork the stopper
        Come to papa, come on let's go

   2. To act freely.
      • 2011 February 12, Mark Orlovac, “England 59-13 Italy”, in BBC‎:

        England cut loose at the end of the half, Ashton, Mark Cueto and Mike Tindall all crossing before the break.

2. (intransitive) To open fire.
   • 2021 March 10, Drachinifel, 14:43 from the start, in Guadalcanal Campaign - The Big Night Battle: Night 1 (IJN 3(?) : 2 USN)‎, archived from the original on 17 October 2022:

     Torpedoes were loosed, but the range was too short for them to actually arm, and they bounced harmlessly off the ship as it cut loose with its secondary and antiaircraft guns, smashing anything that it could see.

• cut it loose
• cut one loose
• cut someone loose

• close out, closeout, cosolute, octulose