cut off at the pass
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Related to cut off at the pass: get off the ground, cut some slack, give it a shot
cut (one) off at the pass
To keep one from doing something (that usually involves an escape). If we take this route, we should be able to cut them off at the pass, sheriff!
cut someone off at the pass
Fig. to block someone's effort to get away; to thwart someone's efforts. They are ahead now, but we'll cut them off at the pass. Try to cut off the bandits at the pass!