“Cutting a carpet” was a slang term for dancing in the 1920s and persisted into the 1940s. The term’s origins are disputed, but some believe it refers to skilled dancers wearing out a carpet. Others suggest it relates to moving furniture to create space for dancing. The term saw a brief resurgence in the late 1990s.
The term “cutting a carpet” began to emerge as a slang term for dancing in the 1920s. Usage of the phrase persisted well into the 1940s, though the term’s popularity has since faded. An author writing in vintage dialect might describe the characters of her cutting a carpet to take the reader back to the era in which the book is supposed to be set. Among small sectors of urban communities, this slang term experienced a brief resurgence in the late 1990s.
Like most slang, the origins of “cutting a carpet” as a synonym for dance are disputed. Several competing theories to explain the idea have been heralded, but none have been proven with certainty. This is often the case with slang, which sometimes seems to catch on overnight. The obscure origins of such terms are both fun and frustrating to explore, especially for historians of language. Especially with such graphic expressions as this one, many wish to know who first used the saying and when.
Some theorists believe this term may have been used to describe dancers who moved so well and so regularly that they wore out a carpet. In some regions, a particularly skilled dancer is said to “cut an average carpet,” a nod to said dancer’s remarkable skills. Besides being fascinating, this explanation is highly probable. The carpets are known to show extensive wear with small crevices that might look like cuts, and the link between the heavy dancing and the wear and tear of the floors seems obvious.
Other theorists have suggested that the term is related to carpets in the sense of taking or moving them. When a spontaneous dance party arises, carpets and furniture are usually moved around to facilitate the dancing. The carpets could also be removed in the long run to create a space for dancing, as would have been common in the 1920s when Prohibition caused many social clubs to go underground in private homes. While the rugs may not have literally been cut, they may have been moved in storage to prevent damage from dancing.
Whatever the origins of the idea of dancing enough to cut a carpet, the term is delightfully descriptive. The 1920s was an era when more vigorous dancing began to be popular, and the idea that young people were dancing so sturdily that the carpets were in danger may have been championed by more traditionalist dancers. As is often the case with snide comments made by strangers, this line may have been picked up by the exuberant dancers to describe their activities. It will be noted that modern and jazz dances can be said to cut a carpet, while traditional minuets and waltzes are not usually associated with the expression.
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