Cut and paste
Meaning
To move a section of text or data from its original location to a new one, whether physically or digitally.
Origin
Before the digital age, editors and writers literally performed the actions of cutting and pasting to revise documents. They would use scissors to 'cut' out sections of text from a typewritten manuscript and then 'paste' them onto another part of the page or a different page using glue or tape. This direct, physical process was the standard method for rearranging content. When personal computing and word processing software emerged in the late 20th century, particularly pioneered by researchers at Xerox PARC and popularized by companies like Apple, this intuitive manual metaphor was perfectly translated into digital commands, making it a universal function in modern software.
Examples
- I need to cut and paste this paragraph to the end of the report to improve its structure.
- The editor suggested we cut and paste the introduction into the second chapter for better chronological flow.