1
general::
Phrase(s): cut at someone or an animal
to thrust a knife or something similar at someone or an animal. • The hoodlum cut at me, but I dodged the blade. • He cut at the dog, but it had no effect on the vicious animal., Phrase(s): cut at something [and] cut away at
to cut on something to slice something. • He cut at the chair leg carefully, trying not to remove too much. • Dad cut away at the turkey and asked us what part we wanted.
McGrawhill's American Idioms And Phrasal Verbs