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cut off

A2 neutral separable transitive
In simple words

To separate something by cutting it, to stop something like water or electricity, to interrupt a phone call, or to make someone feel alone and separated.

Literal meaning: To cut something so that it becomes severed or completely separated.

Meanings

1 A2 neutral

To remove something by cutting it away from the main body.

"The surgeon carefully cut off the damaged tissue during the operation."

Grammar: separable
2 A2 neutral

To stop or interrupt the supply of something such as electricity, water, or gas.

"The electricity was cut off because they hadn't paid their bill for three months."

Grammar: separable
3 A2 neutral

To interrupt someone while they are speaking, or to end a phone connection suddenly.

"She was in the middle of explaining the situation when the line cut off."

Grammar: separable
4 B1 idiomatic neutral

To isolate someone or something, making it impossible to leave or receive help.

"The flooding cut the village off from the rest of the country for several days."

Grammar: separable
Usage notes

Extremely versatile and high-frequency phrasal verb. Common in everyday speech, driving, phone calls, politics, and military contexts. 'Get cut off' (passive) is very common for phone calls dropping. Also used in inheritance ('cut out of the will' vs. 'cut off').

Commonly used with

supply phone retreat escape power conversation

Forms

Base
cut off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts off
he/she/it
Past simple
cut off
yesterday
Past participle
cut off
have + pp
-ing form
cutting off
continuous

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