Cut off

Phrasal Verbs | B2

Listening exercises with “Cut off”

The phrasal verb cut off has several different meanings.

• to cut something off = to remove something

The most basic meaning of this phrasal verb is to remove a part of something, usually by using something sharp.

e.g. One side of the cake has burned a bit, but I’ll just cut it off. Hopefully no one will notice.

• to cut something off = to stop supplying a service, e.g. the internet, electricity, etc.

e.g. We mustn’t forget to pay last month’s phone bill. I don’t want them to cut us off.

• to be cut off from something = to be separated or isolated from somewhere else

e.g. When the tide comes in, this part of the beach is completely cut off.

• to cut someone off = to interrupt someone, to stop them from finishing what they were saying.

e.g. I find it infuriating how he constantly cuts me off in the middle of my sentences.

• to cut someone off = to be formally rejected/disinherited by your family, to be removed from a will.

e.g. He fell out so badly with his parents that they cut him off and never saw him again.

Have a go at these micro-dictation exercises to hear this phrasal verb being used in context – how much can you understand?

Accent: Scotland