# cut off

Pronunciation: US say "kut-AWF" /ˌkʌt ˈɔf/; UK say "kut-OF" /ˌkʌt ˈɒf/; AUS

## Phrasal verb

1. To remove something by cutting it away, as a branch from a tree or a strip from a piece of fabric.
   - Simple: To take something away by cutting it.
   - _Cut off the dead branches before they fall on the roof._
   - _The butcher cut off the extra fat before weighing the steak._
2. To interrupt someone in the middle of what they are saying.
   - Simple: To stop someone while they are still talking.
   - _The chair cut her off before she could finish her point about the budget._
   - _Please don't cut off the speaker; questions come at the end._
3. To stop the supply or provision of something, such as power or water.
   - Simple: To stop something like power or water from reaching a place.
   - _The utility will cut off the water on Elm Street for six hours on Tuesday._
   - _Engineers cut off the power to the damaged line before anyone touched it._
4. To isolate someone or something, removing them from contact with others.
   - Simple: To separate someone or something so they have no contact with others.
   - _The landslide cut off the village from the rest of the valley for a week._
   - _Living alone in the mountains, he felt cut off from the world._
5. While driving, to swerve into the space just ahead of another car. *(Canada, US)*
   - Simple: To drive quickly into the space right in front of another car.
   - _A pickup cut off the bus on the freeway, and the driver had to slam on the brakes._
   - _Some jerk cut me off at the light and then waved like nothing happened._
6. To stop providing someone with money or anything else they have been getting.
   - Simple: To stop giving someone money or other things.
   - _Her father threatened to cut her off if she dropped out of law school._
   - _The bartender cut off the loud customer after his fifth beer._
7. To bring something to a sudden end.
   - Simple: To make something end all at once.
   - _The network cut off the broadcast in the middle of the senator's speech._
   - _Our video call was cut off just as the doctor started explaining the results._
9. To move into someone's path so as to block them from going a certain way.
   - Simple: To move in front of someone so they cannot go where they want.
   - _The defender cut off the striker before she could reach the goal._
   - _Two guards cut him off at the end of the hallway._
11. To switch off a light or other electrical device. *(dialectal, Southern US, US)*
   - Simple: To turn off a light or another thing that uses electricity.
   - _Y'all cut off the TV and come eat supper._
   - _Mama always cuts off the porch light before she goes to bed._

## Noun · cut-off

Pronunciation: US say "KUT-awf" /ˈkʌt ɔf/; UK say "KUT-of" /ˈkʌt ɒf/

8. Alternative spelling of cutoff. — Alternative spelling of cutoff.
   - Simple: Alternative spelling of cutoff. It means the same thing but is written with a hyphen.
   - _The cut-off for early registration is midnight on Friday._
   - _Applicants who scored below the cut-off were placed on a waiting list._

## Adjective · cut-off

Pronunciation: US say "KUT-awf" /ˈkʌt ɔf/; UK say "KUT-of" /ˈkʌt ɒf/

10. Of a shirt or pair of pants, having had the sleeves or legs shortened by cutting away material from the ends.
   - Simple: Made shorter by cutting away the ends of the sleeves or pant legs.
   - _He showed up to the barbecue in cut-off jeans and flip-flops._
   - _The lifeguard wore a faded cut-off shirt that showed his sunburned arms._

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/cut-off (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).