cut off

cut off

1. verb Literally, to remove something from something else by cutting. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." Your plant might bloom again if you cut off the dead flowers. Yikes, we need to cut off that broken branch before it falls on someone's car! Ugh, I need to just cut this broken fingernail off—it keeps getting snagged on everything.

2. verb To abruptly move in front of another driver, either intentionally or unintentionally. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." Can you believe that jerk cut me off like that? I nearly hit him! I didn't mean to cut that guy off, but I had to or else I would have missed my exit! I don't beep at other drivers often, but if you cut me off like that and almost cause an accident, you're definitely getting beeped at!

3. verb To interrupt one and stop them from talking. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." After my mom had been droning on for nearly five minutes, I just had to cut her off. Hey, don't cut me off—I'm not done my story. If they're complaining endlessly about a common problem, cut them off and start walking them through a solution.

4. verb To stop something from working; to turn something off. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." When the fuse blew, it cut off the power to the entire second floor. Look, if you don't pay your bill, the electric company will cut off your electricity. Did the water company cut the water off after the last tenant moved out?

5. verb To stop giving money to someone or something. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." My parents have threatened to cut me off as soon as I turn 30, so I need to find a job. If the school board cuts off funding for the arts, then what will become of the theater program? My mom has been gracious enough to help me pay my rent during this rough spell, but I know she's going to cut me off eventually.

6. verb To change direction. Follow the river to where it cuts off to the left and then you'll see the picnic area. Be careful you don't trip when the trail suddenly cuts off to the right. I definitely thought I was gonna barf when the roller coaster sharply cut off to the left after that second big drop.

7. verb To turn off a particular road. And then you cut off here and get on this dirt road. I swear we're almost there. I've never been to this part of town before, so you need to tell me where to cut off! Yep, you stay on the highway for another mile and then you cut off at the next exit.

8. verb To prevent access to a particular area or thing. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." I had to take a detour because the water department had blocked a bunch of streets, cutting me off from my house. Why are there velvet ropes cutting off that one section of the restaurant from the general public? Why are there cones cutting off this entrance to the parking lot?

9. verb To isolate or sequester someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." The investigators plan to cut the suspect off from his bosses, in the hope that he will confess. You're the "bad cop" who's going to cut me off from my friends and get me to break, right? No chance, pal. If you can cut off the dealers from the supplier, maybe one of them will finally give up a name.

10. verb To end unexpectedly or abruptly. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." No one was disappointed when the principal's microphone came unplugged, cutting off his speech. Aw man, why did the music cut off? Unfortunately, the power outage cut the band's performance off in the middle.

11. verb To intercept someone or something that is en route to another location. The shipment of humanitarian supplies was cut off at the border by the government troops. The sheriff cut off the robbers just as they were about to pass through the gulch. We've got to cut off the drug dealers before they can reconvene with the supplier.

12. In baseball, to intercept a ball that has been thrown to a different player. The shortstop cut off the throw from the outfield because the runner had already scored. I cut off the throw because I knew it was headed well wide of home plate anyway. In a situation like that, I want the infielder to cut off the throw to deter any baserunners from stealing.

13. verb To disinherit or disown someone. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." If you continue to fight with your mother like this, she may just cut you off and leave you with nothing. My father never liked that I gave up medicine to become a writer, and so he cut me off. The family cut Reginald off completely once they discovered his deceptive practices with the family business.

14. verb To stop serving one alcohol, typically because they are intoxicated. In this usage, a noun or pronoun can be used between "cut" and "off." They're going to cut off Tina if she keeps acting like that in here. All right, you belligerent drunk, I'm cutting you off. Barkeep, don't cut me off yet—I still remember this awful day.

15. adjective Indicating an end point for something. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. The cutoff date for the contest is tomorrow, so I hope you've finished your entry. Should I put my daughter in kindergarten this year? Her birthday is just a few days before the age cutoff date. What's the cutoff date to register to vote? Have I missed it?

16. adjective In baseball, describing one who intercepts a ball thrown to a different player. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. The shortstop acted as the cutoff man and then threw the ball to the catcher. The second baseman is the cutoff man in this scenario, OK? If the runner has already scored, one of the infielders needs to act as the cutoff man. Keep the ball in the infield to deter any of the other runners from stealing a base.

17. adjective Too intoxicated to keep being served alcohol. When I nearly fell off my stool for the third time, the bartender told me that I was cut off. All right, you belligerent drunk, you're cut off. A: "Did Allie fall down again?" B: "Yep, tripped over nothing." A: "OK, she's cut off for real."

18. noun The act of ending or stopping something. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. If there is a cutoff of funding, then what will become of the theater program? I hate it too, but a cutoff to overtime is better than a reduction in regular hours. There will assuredly be a cutoff to our judicial probe once the opposing party takes control of Congress.

19. noun A deadline. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word. When is the cutoff for applications to be sent in? Have you applied to register to vote yet? The cutoff is coming up! I did plan to submit a poem to the contest, but then I got sick and missed the cutoff.

20. noun Pants that have been cut into shorts, typically with a ragged hem. In this usage, the phrase is usually written as one word and pluralized ("cutoffs"). I had only brought jeans with me on the trip, and it was so hot that I had to turn them into cutoffs. If we're going straight to the beach, I'll just throw on cutoffs with my bikini. Young lady, you cannot leave the house in cutoffs that short.

See also: cut, off

Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2024 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.

cut someone or something off (from something)

to block or isolate someone or something from some place or something. They cut the cattle off from the wheat field. The enemy tanks cut off the troops from their camp.

See also: cut, off

cut someone or something off (short)

Fig. to interrupt someone or something; to prevent someone from continuing to speak. (See also chop someone off.) In the middle of her sentence, the teacher cut her off short. Bob cut off Mary when she was trying to explain.

See also: cut, off

cut something off

 

1. to shorten something. Cut this board off a bit, would you? Cut off this board a little, please.

2. to turn something off, such as power, electricity, water, the engine, etc. Would you please cut that engine off? Cut off the engine, Chuck.

See also: cut, off

cut off

 

1. to stop by itself or oneself. The machine got hot and cut off. Bob cut off in midsentence.

2. to turn off a road, path, highway, etc. This is the place where you are supposed to cut off. When you come to a cutoff on the left, continue on for about mile.

See also: cut, off

McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

cut off

1. Separate from others, isolate, as in The construction debris cut off the workers from the canteen, or The new sect was cut off from the church. [Late 1500s]

2. Stop suddenly, discontinue, as in He quickly cut off the engine, or The drama was cut off by a news flash about tornado warnings. [Late 1500s]

3. Shut off, bar, Their phone was cut off when they didn't pay the bill, or Tom's father threatened to cut off his allowance. [c. 1600]

4. Interrupt the course or passage of, intercept, as in The operator cut us off, or The shortstop cut off the throw to the plate. [Late 1500s]

5. Also, cut off with a shilling or cent . Disinherit, as in Grandfather cut him off with a shilling. This usage dates from the early 1700s; the purpose of bequeathing one shilling (a small sum) was to indicate that the heir had not been overlooked but was intentionally being disinherited. In America cent was substituted from about 1800 on.

See also: cut, off

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer. Copyright © 2003, 1997 by The Christine Ammer 1992 Trust. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

cut off

v.

1. To remove something by cutting: I cut off the tree branch. He cut his beard off.

2. To interrupt someone who is speaking: Don't cut me off like that. The speaker was cut off by the crowd. The principal cut off the discussion when the assembly started.

3. To separate someone from others; isolate someone: I don't want to cut my brother off from his friends. She was cut off from her family while she was gone. All contact was cut off.

4. To stop something from functioning by disconnecting it from its source of power: Cut the power off. The landlord cut off the heat. The lights got cut off.

5. To interrupt the course or passage of something: The infielder cut off the throw to the plate. The police cut all the routes of escape off.

6. To interrupt or break the line of communication of someone: The telephone operator cut us off. The storm cut off the phone lines.

7. To stop or come to an end suddenly: The music suddenly cut off.

8. To change from one direction to another: The road goes straight over the hill and then cuts off to the right around the pond.

9. To disinherit someone: They cut their heirs off without a cent. My parents changed their will and cut me off after I left home.

10. To discontinue the funding for something, such as a government program: School breakfasts were cut off after the funding cuts. The mayor cut off free school lunches from the budget.

11. To drive into the space in front of a moving car, often suddenly and recklessly: That taxi cut me off on the highway. The truck cut off the small car abruptly.

See also: cut, off

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Phrasal Verbs. Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.