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.
cut at something
and cut away atto 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.