cut off
Third Person
cuts off
Present Participle
cutting off
Past Tense
cut off
Past Participle
cut off
1
to use a sharp object like scissors or a knife on something to remove a piece from its edge or ends
transitive
- Before assembling the model, he used a hobby knife to cut off the excess plastic from the parts.
- The sculptor carefully cut off excess clay to shape the figurine according to the design.
- She carefully cut off a piece of fabric to make a patch for the torn shirt.
- In order to fit the shelf into the corner, he had to cut off a small portion from one side.
2
to remove a part of the body, tissue, or organ through a surgical intervention
transitive
- The dental surgeon had to cut off the decayed tooth to prevent the spread of infection to adjacent teeth.
- In cases of extreme frostbite, amputation may be necessary to cut off the frost-damaged extremity.
- To address the tumor, the oncology team opted to cut off the tumor mass through a precise surgical procedure.
- The surgeon had to cut off the damaged portion of the patient's intestine to prevent further complications.
Synonyms:
3
to abruptly stop speaking or interrupt someone in the middle of their speech
transitive
- Sarah was about to reveal the surprise, but I cut her off before she could spoil it.
- The professor cut off the student who was going off-topic during the lecture.
- I tried to explain my viewpoint, but I was cut off by the loud noise outside.
- The speaker was cut off by the moderator when they exceeded their allotted time.
- They cut him off to avoid discussing the controversial topic.
4
to stop providing a specific resource
transitive
- The mayor announced plans to cut off funding for the controversial project.
- The overdue payments led the utility company to cut off electricity to the delinquent customer.
- The drought conditions forced authorities to cut off water supply to conserve resources.
Synonyms:
5
to end a phone call while the other person is still on the line
transitive
- In the middle of discussing plans, Tom's boss had to cut off the call unexpectedly for an urgent meeting.
- Due to a poor signal, Amanda had to cut off the call with her colleague in the middle of their conversation.
- Mike realized he dialed the wrong number, so he quickly cut off the call to avoid any awkwardness.
- Emily's battery was about to die, so she had to cut off the call with her parents to preserve the remaining charge.
- She was just starting to speak when the call was cut off.
6
to cease serving alcoholic drinks to an individual
transitive
- Signs of slurred speech and unsteady movements prompted the bartender to cut off the patron to ensure their safety.
- The responsible bartender chose to cut off the visibly intoxicated customer, offering water and assistance instead.
- It's essential for establishments to have a policy in place to cut off patrons who exhibit unsafe levels of alcohol consumption.
- The bartender had to cut off the customer after noticing signs of severe intoxication.
Synonyms:
7
to become separated or isolated from something or someone, often by an obstacle or barrier
transitive
- The bridge was cut off by the floodwaters.
- The river cut off the village from the rest of the region.
- The army cut off the enemy’s retreat by blocking the path.
- The landslide cut off the caves from the outside world.
- A fallen tree cut off access to the highway.
8
to exclude someone from getting one's possessions after death
transitive
- In his will, he chose to cut off distant relatives and bequeath his estate to charitable organizations.
- Facing family disputes, she decided to cut off certain members and distribute her assets to trusted friends.
- To express his values, the artist decided to cut off family members who did not share his artistic vision.
- In the absence of a will, the law may determine how to cut off potential heirs from the deceased person's estate.
9
to aggressively and dangerously drive one's vehicle in the path of a moving vehicle
transitive
- The impatient driver decided to cut off the car in the next lane, forcing it to brake suddenly.
- He narrowly avoided an accident when a truck unexpectedly cut him off on the highway.
- The motorcyclist got frustrated when a car abruptly cut him off while changing lanes.
- It's dangerous to cut off other drivers on the road; it can lead to accidents.
- She honked her horn in frustration after being cut off by a speeding driver on the freeway.
10
to end a relationship, particularly a friendly one
transitive
- After a series of betrayals, she decided to cut off ties with her unreliable friend.
- The disagreement over business decisions led the partners to cut off their professional relationship.
- Realizing the toxicity of the friendship, he made the difficult decision to cut off his long-time buddy.
- A history of broken promises and lies prompted her to cut off the friendship and move on.
- All of his family and friends had completely cut him off.
11
to deny someone or something what they need or want
transitive
- The strict diet plan required her to cut off certain foods to achieve her health goals.
- In response to the misbehavior, the teacher threatened to cut off recess privileges for the unruly students.
- The manager had to cut off additional overtime hours to prevent employee burnout.
- The librarian warned that repeated late returns could lead to the library cutting off borrowing privileges.