cut eye, v.² — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

cut eye v.²

[? var. on SE cut one’s teeth]

(US) to understand, to appreciate; to suspect.

1859		Matsell Vocabulum 23: cutting his eyes Beginning to see; learning; suspicious.
1882		Dly Dispatch (Richmond, VA) 1 Nov. 3/3: When they see the lamb is ‘cutting his eyes’ or getting suspicious they ‘dust’ or get away.