1 B2 neutral
To cut off a branch, limb, or protrusion with a heavy blow or cut.
"He lopped off the lower branches to let more light reach the garden."
separable
lop off
B2 neutral separable transitive
To remove a part of something — typically a branch, limb, or chunk — with a single heavy cut.
In plain English
You chop something off with one big cut, like cutting a branch off a tree.
What does "lop off" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 idiomatic neutral
(Figurative) To remove a significant portion from a price, budget, or amount.
"The new deal lopped £500 off the price of the car."
separable
3 B2 informal
(Informal) To cut off a body part, typically in a dramatic or violent context.
"According to the legend, the knight lopped off the giant's head in a single blow."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut something off so it falls away.
Actually means
You chop something off with one big cut, like cutting a branch off a tree.
Usage tip
Often used in gardening (cutting branches) or more dramatically for body parts. The figurative sense — removing part of something like a price or text — is also common, especially in journalism.
Words that pair with "lop off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
branch head arm price budget section
How to conjugate "lop off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
lop off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
lops off
he/she/it
Past simple
loped off
yesterday
Past participle
loped off
have + pp
-ing form
loping off
continuous
Hear "lop off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "lop off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Other ways to say "lop off"
Swap in when you want variety — tap a linked one to explore it.
Keep exploring
Jump to every phrasal verb built on the same verb, particle, or level.