when it comes to farts, why do people refer to it as "cutting the cheese"?

Answer 1

It is thought to have originated because when a new wheel of Limburger cheese was cut into, it released a very pungent smell. Uncut, there was no fragrance but cut, was an entirely different story. If you have ever smelled Limburger cheese, you would understand.

Somewhere along the way, "cutting the cheese" also became synonymous with farting.