cut off

What does "cut off" mean?

1. To remove something by cutting
2. To stop the supply of something
3. To interrupt or disconnect someone
4. To isolate or separate from others
5. To drive dangerously in front of another vehicle

Examples

• She cut off a piece of cheese.
• They cut off the electricity because we didn't pay the bill.
• Sorry, I got cut off - the phone connection failed.
• The village was cut off by the snowstorm.
• That driver just cut me off on the highway!

How to use it

'Cut someone off' in driving is dangerous and rude. 'Cut off' from society means isolated. 'Cutoff' (noun) is a limit or deadline.

Word order

Object can go between: 'cut the power off' or after: 'cut off the power'. Pronouns must go between: 'cut it off'.

Similar expressions

Opposites

Related phrasal verbs

• cut out

  To remove something by cutting

• cut down

  To reduce the amount or quantity of something

• cut back

  To reduce spending, production, or consumption

• cut in

  To interrupt someone who is speaking

• cut up

  To cut something into smaller pieces

• cut down on

  To reduce the amount or frequency of something