running the cutter

Running the Cutter denotes a hands-on management or supervisory style.

Australia-New Zealand origin. The worker running the silage cutter on a farm was in charge of both the machine and the other workers breaking open hay bales and feeding the hay into it to produce animal feed.

Australian-New Zealand in origin meaning to go up to the pub and bring beer back. Often to do with mining or farming or a rural/industrial setting where a group of workers would have a drink together after knock off time. A Cutter is a Billy can and each bloke would have his own. If a flagon or beer could be brought, each man’s cutter could be filled and the beer shared. Running the cutter was to send someone on an errand to fetch beer for sharing amongst the thirsty workers at the end of a shift