saw off
B1 neutral separable transitive
In simple words
To cut something off using a saw.
Literal meaning: To saw something and remove it — fully transparent.
Meanings
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."
Grammar: separable
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."
Grammar: separable
Usage notes
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.
Commonly used with
branch limb plank leg pipe corner
Forms
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
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