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I was wondering what are the polite and neutral versions of cut the bullshit?

Suppose one calls his mobile customer service for signal problem, but the representative endlessly tries to promote irrelevant products.

I seem to remember there is some word other than bullshit to be used with cut, which is more neutral, but I cannot recall it.

Mari-Lou A
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Tim
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8 Answers8

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Cut to the chase.

Cut (or get or return) to the point (neutral if preceded by "let's" or "we should" instead of "you").

Monica Cellio
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    +1 Cut to the chase. I was just looking up the link. But "get to the point" is impatiently rude, and "cut the crap" is offensive. I'd take those out if I were you. – Kit Z. Fox Jun 09 '11 at 20:50
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    @Kit, agree on the last. I've seen "cut to the point" be neutral when it's collaborative, as in "we should..." or "let's...". Edited. – Monica Cellio Jun 09 '11 at 21:58
  • I see your point about "cut to the point." You're right, if you say "let's cut to the point," that probably would not be interpreted as rude. – Kit Z. Fox Jun 10 '11 at 00:40
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That's very interesting. Now, I was hoping you could help me with [repeat request].

Cerberus - Reinstate Monica
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Cut to the chase...

Let's try to focus on "x"...

Let's get to the heart of the matter...

Coming back to the point...

We're off topic, let's refocus...

Let's not fool around...

...and the 'not so polite and not very neutral' version from my years as a craps supervisor in a casino, "Cut the f-ing bullshit already, because if you try to pile it any deeper we're all going to f-ing drown."

Darwy
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A slightly more polite and a lot less vulgar phrase is, let's get to it (the point).

RyeɃreḁd
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Are you referring to

cut the crap

Sri Atluru
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  • Thanks! Nice one. Is it offensive? Hope it is not. – Tim Jun 09 '11 at 20:49
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    Cut the crap is pretty offensive. – Kit Z. Fox Jun 09 '11 at 20:50
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    I would actually consider "cut the crap" as somewhat more offensive/insulting than "cut the bullshit." "Bullshit" (often shortened to BS) has become a relatively neutral term for the red tape/trivia/meaningless routine we all have to deal with every day, so "cut the BS" has a sense of "You and I are both adults; we can take all of that as read, and get down to business." "Cut the crap", however, has more of a flavor of "You are lying to me or being intentionally obstructive" - it feels more personal, in other words. – MT_Head Jun 09 '11 at 21:54
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    It looks a bit more offensive to me as well... Natives here should show up! :D – Alenanno Jun 09 '11 at 22:17
  • Well. I did not put this thing up as the polite/neutral term. I was referring to the part of the question, where the author says - "I seem to remember there is some word ... But I cannot recall it." – Sri Atluru Jun 09 '11 at 22:19
  • And of course, it is obvious, Crap is as offensive, if not more, as is Bullshit. – Sri Atluru Jun 09 '11 at 22:19
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    Then it would have been better posted as a comment than an answer, I guess. – Alenanno Jun 09 '11 at 22:32
  • As a native AmE speaker, I find 'crap' much less offensive than 'shit'. It is still on the vulgar side of things, but it feels like it is towards the limit of what can be said on TV. – Mitch Jun 09 '11 at 22:54
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    @Mitch - I also am a native USAite, and I agree: as a word, "crap" is less offensive than "shit." But as a concept, "bullshit" (although it's obviously a type of "shit") has come to be far less offensive than either. – MT_Head Jun 09 '11 at 23:32
  • bullshit is vulgar, crap is offensive, they're both rude. @MT_Head hits on the right idea, getting called out for crap is a personal accusation. getting called out for bullshit is about cutting away small talk or formalities or shared lies that get in the way of real discussion. but both are definitely disrupting social norms. – mendota Oct 04 '18 at 17:55
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Some useful expressions from American politics:

  1. No malarkey!

“Malarkey” is an old-fashioned Irish-American slang word meaning “bull*” (Urban Dictionary). I wouldn't recommend actually using this one.

  1. Straight talk

This is a common expression, and can be used as follows:

Hey, straight talk, what’s your opinion about “x”?

Another expression that’s worth mentioning is:

  1. Don’t beat around the bush.

For example,

Let’s not beat around the bush and address this issue directly.

hb20007
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"Can we stay on point?" "Can we stick to the matter at hand."

I had a professor who constantly would remind us to "Keep it terse, pithy and to the point." He could easily have added "breviloquent" to that list of words.

(Of course the humor was that he was being wordy in saying that we should be brief.)

Packard
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From lexico: Let's get down to business. enter image description here

Anshan Today
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