1 B1 neutral
To detach something by cutting through it with a saw.
"He sawed off the broken branch before the storm could bring it down onto the fence."
separable
saw off
B1 neutral separable transitive
To remove something by cutting it with a saw.
In plain English
To cut something off using a saw.
What does "saw off" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B2 neutral
To shorten or modify a firearm (especially a shotgun) illegally by cutting the barrel short.
"The police discovered a sawed-off shotgun hidden under the floorboards."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To saw something and remove it — fully transparent.
Actually means
To cut something off using a saw.
Usage tip
Used in woodwork, carpentry, construction, and everyday DIY. The object can be a branch, a piece of pipe, or a limb. Can also be used figuratively in rare cases.
Words that pair with "saw off"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
branch limb plank leg pipe corner
How to conjugate "saw off"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
saw off
I/you/we/they
3rd person
saws off
he/she/it
Past simple
sawed off
yesterday
Past participle
sawed off
have + pp
-ing form
sawing off
continuous
Hear "saw off" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "saw off" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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