Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. to make oneself known to, to interrupt.

1937		(con. 1905–25) E.H. Sutherland Professional Thief (1956) 5: He would, if possible without endangering his own liberty, cut into the booster or other mob and advise them of being cased.
1979		‘Iceberg Slim’ Airtight Willie and Me 198: Toni cut into her and jammed her nose with some pure crystal coke.

2. to take a share of.

1899		W.J. Kountz Billy Baxter’s Letters 17: When you are cutting into the grape at four dollars per, you always want to say Mr. Bartender.
1909		Van Loan ‘The Low Brow’ in Big League (2004) 22: And cutting into the grape, too!
1957		‘Ed Lacy’ Lead With Your Left (1958) 27: Started to cut into the big pie but got himself killed.
1978		P. Hamill Dirty Laundry 152: Moya [...] left New York to cut herself into one of the biggest jackpots in history.

3. to meet, to encounter.

1940		D. Maurer Big Con 29: I was walking down the street and cut into a mark.
c.1953		Babs Gonzales ‘Manhattan Fable’ 🎵 Everything was fine as wine until he cut into Hollywood eyes.
1965		H. Huncke in Huncke’s Journal (1998) 32: Phil [...] cut into a chick he knows who straightened him.
1972		N. Heard To Reach a Dream 4: We’ll cut into him in the middle of the block.
1980		(con. 1940s–60s) H. Huncke ‘Ed Leary’ in Eve. Sun Turned Crimson (1998) 128: Late in the evening we cut into Hugh and picked up two more caps.
1994		N. McCall Makes Me Wanna Holler (1995) 77: It was a big thrill then to cut into downtown girls.

4. to introduce.

1960		C. Cooper Jr Scene (1996) 177: A junkie cut me into this guy two days ago.
1978		W. Brown Tragic Magic 97: I’ll cut you in to some stone freaks.

5. (Aus.) to attack verbally.

1976		D. Hall Dock Ellis 170: He wanted me to cut into management then the way I know to cut into it now.
1993		Smith & Noble Neddy (1998) 307: Being the nice easy-going smooth-talker that I’m not, I cut into Tom right away. ‘Listen here, you big-mouthed dog, did you tell Abo that I gave you up?’.
2023		(con. 1962) J. Ellroy Enchanters 200: Peter [...] cut into you. He told Mr Leavy that you killed that kidnap man in cold blood.