Question

Fish or Cut Bait do one thing or another, but stop delaying; make a choice; act now or give someone else a turn

Accepted Answer

Are you using that microscope or not? Fish or cut bait. This idiom, popular since the 1800s, is a metaphor that refers to a person who holds a fishing rod but doesn't fish. Someone else could use that rod and catch some fish. The procrastinator might be asked to either drop the line into the water and fish, or cut the bait from the line and let another angler have a chance.

Idiom	Fish or Cut Bait
Example	Are you using that microscope or not? Fish or cut bait.
Meaning	do one thing or another, but stop delaying; make a choice; act now or give someone else a turn
Origin	This idiom, popular since the 1800s, is a metaphor that refers to a person who holds a fishing rod but doesn't fish. Someone else could use that rod and catch some fish. The procrastinator might be asked to either drop the line into the water and fish, or cut the bait from the line and let another angler have a chance.

Cut Bait Fish Rod Line Microscope Thing Stop