cut a rug

present singular third person cuts a rug · participle present cutting a rug · alternative cut the rug

1. idiomaticinformalTo dance, especially in a vigorous manner and in one of the dance styles of the first half of the twentieth century.

   The way you can cut a rug, watching you's the only drug I need.

   2009, “Hey, Soul Sister”, in Save Me, San Francisco, performed by Train

   4 more examples

   Young-generation patrons seem to be as fascinated watching the more mature dancers cut a rug.

   1991 December 15, Ron Alexander, “A Step Back to Supper Clubs and Swing”, in New York Times, retrieved 15 Sep 2008

   Came here to get ya, but I can't wait / To grab me a partner and cut a rug up tonight

   2002, “Boogie 2nite”, in Southern Hummingbird, performed by Tweet

   Let's dance / Cut a rug together / Looking at forever / It's the way that I want it to be

   2012, “Last Days of Disco”, performed by Saint Etienne

   Shake it up, throw your hands up and get loose / Cut a rug, lean into the fuckin' youth

   2017, “When The World Was At War We Kept Dancing”, in Lust for Life, performed by Lana Del Rey

2. Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see cut, a, rug.