The Phrasal Verb 'Cut Off' Explained
- Phrasal Verbs Explained
- Apr 25
- 14 min read
An explanation of the different meanings of the English phrasal verb 'cut off' from a native speaker, with lots of examples in context
Hello and welcome to my website for English learners all about phrasal verbs where I explain their different meanings to help you understand, learn and use them like a native.
In this blog article, I will be explaining the wonderful English phrasal verb 'cut off' and the different ways that we use it. First, we will cover the basics and then move onto the more well known meanings, like to remove something and to block something, before finally looking at some of the lesser known and regional meanings and idioms that it is found in. Furthermore, there are lots of example sentences to show you the contexts in which each application is used. So, without further ado, let's make a start....
TABLE OF CONTENTS (Click to jump to each one)
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THE BASICS
CUT OFF: KEY INFORMATION
Usage | Common |
Number of meanings | 8 |
Past tense forms | Cut off / Cut off |
Separable? | Yes |
In this post, we will explore 8 different ways to use the phrasal verb 'cut off' but before we do that, let's first consider the individual words 'cut' and 'off' and their meanings.
I am sure that you will all be very familiar with the verb 'to cut' already. Its main usage in English is to break the surface of something or to separate one thing from another by using a sharp tool like a knife or pair of scissors. Additionally, its other common meanings include to reduce something and to block the supply of something. Like most frequently used verbs in English, 'to cut' is irregular.
Jessica cut the string with some scissors.
Can you cut my hair this weekend?
I need to cut the grass today before it rains.
Debbie cut herself with a knife whilst cooking dinner.
The married couple cut the cake.
The government is cutting funding to the charity next year.
They want to cut the power for an hour to perform some electrical work.
The prepositional particle 'off' is one that you will often see in phrasal verb constructions to add a meaning of separation or removal as we will see later in this post. In addition to this, 'off' can be used in phrasal verbs to convey ideas like departure (set off) and ending (call off) among others.
Now that we have covered the basics, let's dive into the different meanings of the phrasal verb 'cut off'....
MEANING 1: To remove something
CEFR Language Level | A2 - Elementary |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To remove, to separate, to chop off |
Separable? | Yes |
As I explained earlier, the verb 'to cut' can mean to remove something by using a sharp tool and this first meaning of 'cut off' means the same thing...it's just a bit more precise.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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Often when we use a verb like 'to cut', we need to provide extra information to people, telling them the result of the cutting action. When we want we to say that we have cut something in order to separate it from what it was attached to, we use 'cut off'. We are simply just adding more precise information to our description of the cutting action.
Note that the natural opposite of the word 'off' in English is 'on' and so we only use this for items that are considered to be 'on' something else or that form an integral part of something. For example, we say that our hair is on our head and so if we have a drastic haircut at the hairdressers, we might say that we have had our hair cut off. Likewise, Marie Antoinette and many other people in the past were unfortunate enough to lose their head (and their lives) as a form of punishment and in such cases we can say that somebody cut their heads of...horrible but true!
This usage is not just limited to body parts though and it can be used with anything that is attached to or forms part of another (usually larger) thing.
Ben accidentally cut off the end of his finger while chopping vegetables.
The tailor cut off the excess fabric before sewing the hem.
The gardeners cut off the dead branches from the tree to make it healthier.
Luke cut off a slice of bread and handed it to his daughter.
The farmer cut off the chicken’s head quickly and cleanly.
Emma cut off a lock of her hair to keep as a memory.
John cut off the tags from his new shirt before wearing it.
Lucy cut off the crusts from the sandwiches for her kids.
The plumbers cut off part of the pipe to fix the leak.
The mechanic cut off the rusty bolt in order to replace it.
For reference, if you want to remove something that is an internal place and is not an integral part of the whole object, you would need to use the phrasal verb 'cut out' link here.
MEANING 2: To separate or block a connection
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To separate, to block |
Separable? | Yes |
This second application of 'cut off' is used to talk about both people and objects and means to separate or block a connection to something.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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As you will have noticed, for this meaning we are continuing with the theme of separating something that was once connected to something else, however this time we are not using a sharp tool to perform a cutting action. Instead, we are talking about much larger objects and places that are normally easy to access but are temporarily inaccessible due to an obstruction of some kind.
This 'cutting off' may be caused by natural phenomena or disasters such as a fallen tree, a landslide or an earthquake. Alternatively, something may be cut off intentionally by people who do not want other people to access somewhere.
The village was completely cut off by the floodwaters.
The rebels cut the town off from outside help.
A fallen tree cut off access to the main road.
The soldier's route was cut off by enemy forces.
The island was cut off from the mainland after the bridge collapsed.
DID YOU KNOW THAT CUT-OFF EXISTS AS AN ADJECTIVE? As a consequence of this, we can also use the adjective form 'cut-off to describe places that are difficult to access or are very far from other people and places. This may be temporarily, due to a blockage, or permanent if the place is situated somewhere that is hard to reach like up a mountain etc.
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LET'S NOT FORGET PEOPLE!
Back to the phrasal verb again and in addition to places that are difficult to access, we can also use this application of 'cut off' to describe people who are isolated from others in their lives and often feel lonely as a result. The reason that we use 'cut off' for this is because we are talking about how people's connections to others have been blocked.
We can use this in an active way, where other people choose to isolate the lonely person (cut them off) or in a passive way to describe the lonely person's experience or feelings.
Sarah felt cut off from her friends after moving to a new city.
José's strict parents cut him off from the outside world.
Depression made Alan feel cut off from everyone around him.
The friendship group cut Michelle off socially because she didn’t agree with their views.
The cult leader cut his followers off from their families.
MEANING 3: To stop the supply of something
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Common |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To disconnect |
Separable? | Yes |
For our next application of 'cut off', we have another variation on the ongoing theme of separation and that is to stop the supply of something.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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If you ever stop paying for your home utilities like electricity or gas, it is a certainty that after a period of time your supplier will disconnect the service to your house until you pay...or in other words, they will cut you off.
Thankfully, this has never happened to me as I am (most of the time) very punctual with paying my bills but I have heard of this happening to other people.
You will hear this application most commonly in reference to these utility services, often being used as a threat to make people pay.
Alternatively, you may also hear about people being cut off financially when someone who normally gives them money stops giving it to them. I should stress that this is not in the sense of work and more like rich parents or husbands.
They cut off the water supply due to unpaid bills.
Beatrice's parents cut her off financially when she dropped out of college.
The landlord threatened to cut off the electricity if the rent wasn't paid.
The gas company cut off service to several homes during the maintenance work.
Our internet was cut off because we forgot to renew the subscription.
The rebels cut off food and medical supplies to the city.
In addition to this, we can use 'cut off' in this way on a larger scale when talking about governmental funding and supplies of products etc. as these are all things whose supply can be stopped or cut off at any time if a government so wishes (which we are famously seeing in certain countries right now).
The government has decided to cut off all aid to the World Health Organisation.
If an agreement cannot be reached, it is likely that the supply of food to the area will be cut off.
MEANING 4: To be disconnected (telephone)
CEFR Language Level | B2 - Upper intermediate |
Usage | Common (mainly passive) |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To cut out |
Separable? | Sometimes |
We are now on to our fourth meaning of 'cut off' and we are again sticking with the disconnection theme as this one means to be disconnected on the telephone.
In this modern day and age, the vast majority of us have a mobile phone (cellphone for those familiar with US English) and many of you may even be reading this post on yours at this very moment! As a result, one thing that we are all very familiar with is when we are in the middle of a phone call and the signal goes, meaning that the call is disconnected. When this happens, we usually say "the call got cut off".
You should note that this is mainly used in the passive sense with the helper verbs 'to get', and less commonly with 'to be'.
We were talking and suddenly got cut off.
I think the call got cut off; can you hear me now?
Sue was in the middle of explaining something when the line cut off.
Sorry, I didn’t hang up; I got cut off.
We keep getting cut off; the signal must be bad out here.
The phone cut off just as I was about to say goodbye.
You cut off for a second there; can you repeat that?
MEANING 5: To intercept someone
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To intercept |
Separable? | Yes |
Another way that we can use 'cut off' to talk about people is in relation to intercepting them when they are moving or travelling to a place.
Usually, this would be when you want to stop someone reaching a destination and so you attempt to obstruct their route somehow and stop them from arriving there.
Typical contexts in which this application is used are police and law enforcement chasing criminals, military action and just those everyday moments when you want to stop someone from going somewhere before it is too late...something that that is often portrayed in romantic Hollywood movies.
The rebels tried to escape, but government forces cut them off at the mountain pass.
The army cut off the enemy’s escape route by blocking the bridge.
The police cut off the suspect before he could reach the city limits.
The bank robbers tried to run but the officers cut them off at the intersection.
A police patrol car sped ahead to cut off the getaway vehicle.
Rachel was about to get on the airplane when Ross cut her off and told her that he loved her.
MEANING 6: To interrupt someone
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To cut in, to interrupt, to interject |
Separable? | Yes |
Our next meaning of 'cut off' is one that is regularly heard in social situations and means to interrupt someone and stop them from speaking.
When we use this application, it is normally to describe when a person suddenly or unexpectedly starts talking while another person is talking, making the other person stop. Typically, this is considered quite a rude thing to do, however perhaps it is more forgivable when the people involved are in an argument and are too angry to care.
Grammatically speaking, when we use this application in an active sentence, it is always separable with the person (name or pronoun) who was interrupted going between 'cut' and 'off'. In a passive sentence, it cannot be used separably (see the examples below)....
Helen tried to explain, but Roger rudely cut her off.
I was in the middle of a sentence when my colleague cut me off.
Don’t cut me off; let me finish what I’m saying.
The politician was cut off by someone shouting from the audience.
Andrew cut Julie off before she could finish her sentence.
Ashley and Mark were having a deep conversation, but the waiter cut them off to take their order.
Alison kept cutting Joe off during the debate, which annoyed the audience.
MEANING 7: To disinherit someone
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used? | Everywhere |
Potential synonyms | To cut out, to disinherit |
Separable? | Yes |
From looking at the picture above, you may think that this next application of 'cut off' is all about funerals and burying people, but it is not quite that as it is in fact to disinherit someone.
Firstly, if the verb 'to disinherit' is new to you, it means to prevent someone from receiving or inheriting your money and possessions after you die.
Now that I have explained that, it should come as no surprise to you that this application tends to be used a lot in reference to family members, particularly the black sheep of the family (those family members that have been cut off like in meaning 2).
In this sense, if a person is cut off, then he or she is not able to receive any of a deceased person's wealth or possessions. It sounds harsh but families are often very complicated and it does happen from time to time.
After years of disagreements, Peter's father finally cut him off from the family fortune.
Linda was cut off in the will and didn’t receive a single penny after her mother's death.
His parents warned Steve that if he kept misbehaving, he'd be cut off financially.
Adrian cut off his daughter after she refused to join the family business.
Their wealthy grandfather cut them off for squandering their inheritance.
Lucy feared that marrying against her parents’ wishes would get her cut off.
Anthony was shocked to learn he had been completely cut off from the estate.
Being cut off by his parents forced Jim to become financially independent.
MEANING 8: To move into another driver's lane
CEFR Language Level | C1 - Advanced |
Usage | Medium |
Where is it used | American English |
Potential synonyms | To cut up |
Separable? | Yes |
Our final application for the phrasal verb 'cut off' is an American usage that means to move into another road user's lane while driving.
Nouns commonly used with this application....
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We use this application in North American English to describe when another car suddenly turns into the lane of the freeway that you are driving in very close in front of you, meaning that you need to apply your brakes and slow down to avoid a collision. 99% of the time this is just bad driving and is extremely dangerous for everyone involved, however people seem to do it all the time!
If you said this in British or Australian English, it may be understood in the context, however the correct phrasal verb to use in this case would be 'cut up'.
That car just cut me off on the highway!
Lisa had to slam on the brakes because someone cut her off.
I hate it when drivers cut you off without using a turn signal.
A truck cut him off and nearly caused an accident.
Hank got angry after being cut off by a speeding car.
You shouldn’t cut people off in traffic — it’s reckless.
Another driver cut me off and then slowed down — so frustrating!
Mary-Sue was cut off while trying to merge onto the freeway.
THE NOUN 'CUT-OFF'
As with many phrasal verbs that describe physical actions, there is also a noun that has developed from the phrasal verb usage and this is simply 'cut-off' (cutoff in US English).
This noun actually has a couple of different meanings.....
The first one is more closely linked to our third phrasal verb meaning and is a noun for the action of preventing or stopping the supply of something.
The government announced a cut-off of electricity to non-essential areas during the energy crisis.
After the payment deadline passed, there was an immediate cut-off of services to accounts that had defaulted.
The other meaning of 'cut-off' is more commonly used and is used to refer to a fixed point where something stops or finishes. This is most commonly heard in relation to time when we have cut-off dates, which are the dates on which something closes or ends such as applications for university and competition entries.
The cutoff for submitting applications is Friday at 5 p.m.
Your application won’t be considered if you submit it after the cutoff date.
We missed the cutoff for early registration and had to pay the full fee.
The cutoff point for eligibility is age 35.
TO CUT OFF YOUR NOSE TO SPITE YOUR FACE!
Let's finish things of with a common idiom featuring the phrasal verb 'cut off' that is in popular usage in everyday English....
To cut off your nose to spite your face
This idiom is not as horrible as it may seem although it is still rather negative in nature. If you cut off your nose to spite your face, you do something in anger that will punish or hurt another person, but will also cause you problems as a consequence.
Liam quit his job without having another one lined up, just to prove a point to his boss; talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face!
I know you are too angry to apologise to your boyfriend right now but don’t cut off your nose to spite your face; you’re only hurting your relationship.
We have now reached the end of this post and I just want to say thank you for clicking on my post and reading it. I hope that you've enjoyed it and have been able to learn something new about the phrasal verb 'cut off'. If you enjoyed this post, please go ahead and check out some of my other posts.
Now it is YOUR turn. Can you think of a sentence yourself using 'cut off'. Write it in the comments section below if you can, or alternatively any comments, suggestions or feedback that you may have....don't be shy!!!
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THE END
I am always looking forward to reading your post: I am learning a lot. Thanks.
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