The phrase "cut to the chase" means to skip over unnecessary details and get straight to the most important part. It is often used when someone is telling a long, drawn-out story or making a lengthy explanation that isn't getting to the point quickly enough. The phrase originated from old silent films, where it was common for a character to chase another character through an elaborate series of obstacles before finally catching them. In these scenes, the audience would often get restless and start shouting "cut!" meaning they wanted the boring parts skipped over and the exciting part shown instead. The phrase then evolved into its current usage as a way to express impatience with unnecessary details and a desire for the main point to be revealed quickly.