Cut to the chase means to get to the point without wasting time. The phrase originated from early silent films. Such films, particularly comedies, often climaxed in chase scenes. An inexpert screenwriter or director, unsure how to get to the climax, would just make an abrupt transition, known as a cut. (A jump cut is something else entirely.) A silent film is a film which has no accompanying soundtrack. ...
Trivia
The phrase was referenced in an episode of Seinfeld where George Costanza uses the phrase. Jerry Seinfeld abruptly derides him for using the phrase, implying that George must think he is a big-shot celebrity and that average people have no use for such a phrase. Seinfeld was an American television situation comedy set in New York City that ran from July 5, 1989, to May 14, 1998. ... Jason Alexander as George Costanza George Louis Costanza (born April 1959) is a fictional character on the US television sitcom Seinfeld (1989â1998), played by Jason Alexander. ... Jerry as himself, in the television show Seinfeld For the actor, see Jerry Seinfeld. ...
Chase therefore feels that, as well as continuing RICS’ efforts to establish its qualification as the global benchmark for professionalism in the property market, the time has come to remind UK members of the role that they play in that process.
Chase says that UK government has failed to take the views of the industry into account on a number of important issues, one of which was bringing the provision of insurance into the regulatory framework.
Chase also points out that a system whereby planners can one minute be deciding whether to give the go-ahead for an extension to a house and the next looking at a £200m tower block raises difficult questions about whether appropriate expertise is available to aid the decision-making process.
Cut to the chase, which means 'get to the point; get on with it; get down to business', is unquestionably a reference to chase scenes in action movies.
While there is a verb chase in metalworking, meaning 'to ornament (metal) by engraving' or 'to cut a screw thread with a chaser' (from French, ultimately related to the English word case), this is not connected to cut to the chase.
The occurrence of cut and chase in the metalworking definition is coincidental.