# cut off

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cut-off
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to remove by cutting

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to remove something from a larger part by using a knife or scissors.

For teachers: to sever or remove a part from a whole using a sharp instrument.

- You should cut off the dead leaves to help the plant grow better.
- The surgeon had to cut off the blood supply to the tumor before attempting the primary extraction.

Usage: Separable; the object can sit between 'cut' and 'off'.

### 2. to stop a supply

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to stop providing something like water, electricity, or money.

For teachers: to discontinue the provision or supply of a utility, service, or financial support.

- The company will cut off our electricity if we don't pay the bill.
- The government threatened to cut off funding for the project if the milestones were not met by the end of the quarter.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice: 'to be cut off'.

### 3. to isolate

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to separate a person or place so they cannot communicate with others.

For teachers: to isolate a person, group, or geographical location from external contact or access.

- The heavy snow cut off the small village from the rest of the country.
- After the scandal, he felt completely cut off from his former colleagues and friends.

Usage: Commonly takes the preposition 'from'.

### 4. to interrupt someone

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to stop someone from finishing what they are saying.

For teachers: to interrupt a speaker abruptly, preventing them from completing a statement.

- I'm sorry to cut you off, but we are running out of time.
- The moderator repeatedly cut off the candidates when they exceeded their allotted speaking time during the debate.

Usage: Transitive; usually takes a person as the direct object.

### 5. driving maneuver

phrasal verb · CEFR B2 · Informal

to suddenly drive in front of another car in a dangerous way.

For teachers: to swerve abruptly into the path of another vehicle, forcing the other driver to brake or change course.

- That blue car cut me off without even using a turn signal.
- Aggressive drivers who cut off others in heavy traffic are a primary cause of minor collisions on this highway.

Usage: Transitive; the object is the driver or vehicle being blocked.

### 6. to switch off

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Dialect

to turn off a light or a machine.

For teachers: to deactivate an electrical device or light source.

- Don't forget to cut off the lights before you go to bed.
- The technician had to cut off the main power supply before repairing the faulty wiring.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to certain regions, particularly the Southern United States; 'turn off' is the standard term elsewhere.

## Examples

- The company cut off our electricity because we didn't pay.
- Heavy snow cut off the mountain village from the rest of the country for three days.
- The sudden collapse of the bridge effectively cut off the retreating army from their primary supply lines and reinforcements.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: this verb has several distinct senses; focus on the 'interruption of supply' and 'isolation' meanings as they are most common in B1-B2 contexts.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.