cut-offs
cut-offs — noun
1. the act of stopping something that is flowing or continuing, or of removing a pa
the act of stopping something that is flowing or continuing, or of removing a part of something by cutting
The cut-off of electricity lasted for three hours during the storm.
the cut-off of + noun (supply/resource)
Farmers worried about the cut-off of water to their rice fields.
The sudden cut-off of funding forced the research team to stop their work.
A quick cut-off of the damaged branch saved the rest of the tree.
- stoppage
more formal; used for supplies and services
- severance
formal; emphasis on separating connections
- interruption
softer; implies the break may be temporary
- continuation
the state of continuing without break
- supply
the provision of something that was cut off
文法句型
the cut-off of + [something]
用法筆記
Often used with of and a noun describing the thing that is stopped or removed.
2. a short, new channel that a river makes when it cuts through a bend, creating a
a short, new channel that a river makes when it cuts through a bend, creating a straighter route for the water to follow
The river created a cut-off that turned the old bend into a small lake.
Geologists studied the new cut-off to understand how the river changed its course.
domain: geography
The boat could not enter the old channel because the cut-off had redirected the water.
The new cut-off carried most of the river's flow, leaving the old bend to slowly fill with silt.
- oxbow
the curved, abandoned section of the river, not the new channel
- bypass channel
a man-made version of this geographical feature
3. a valve, switch, or other mechanism that stops the flow of a substance such as g
a valve, switch, or other mechanism that stops the flow of a substance such as gas, water, or fuel through a pipe or tube
The plumber used a pipe cut-off to remove the damaged section of the water line.
The gas fitter installed a cut-off on the main supply line behind the boiler.
collocation: cut-off on + [pipe/line]
Every boat engine needs a fuel cut-off that stops the petrol supply in an emergency.
Check the fuel cut-off before you attempt to repair the engine.
用法筆記
Most often appears in compound nouns (pipe cut-off, fuel cut-off, steam cut-off) describing what the tool cuts.
4. a piece that has been separated from a larger whole by cutting, often a leftover
a piece that has been separated from a larger whole by cutting, often a leftover or scrap
The tailor kept the cut-offs from the fabric to use as cleaning rags.
plural form for scraps
The cut-offs from the steel pipe were recycled at the metal yard.
Tom stacked the cut-offs of timber next to the workbench for later use.
Carlos saved the cut-offs from the oak planks to make small shelves later.
用法筆記
Commonly appears as plural (cut-offs) when referring to leftover scraps or offcuts from a larger piece.
5. short trousers made from jeans that have had their legs removed, usually at or a
short trousers made from jeans that have had their legs removed, usually at or above the knee, worn especially in warm weather
Amara wore her favourite cut-offs to the beach party last Saturday.
Jack bought an old pair of jeans from the thrift store and made cut-offs for the summer trip.
pair of cut-offs
The shop sells cut-offs with frayed edges for a casual, relaxed look.
Mei-Lin packed a pair of cut-offs and three T-shirts for her weekend trip to Kenting.
- jean shorts
broader term; cut-offs are homemade-looking, jean shorts can be manufactured
- denim shorts
more general; not necessarily made from cut-off jeans
用法筆記
Always takes a plural verb (these cut-offs are / the cut-offs fit). Typically stored or described as a pair of cut-offs.
常見錯誤
6. a fixed time or date after which something is no longer accepted, allowed, or po
a fixed time or date after which something is no longer accepted, allowed, or possible
The cut-off for online registration is midnight on Friday.
cut-off for + [activity]
After the cut-off date, late applications will not be considered.
collocation: cut-off date
The bank sets a monthly cut-off for processing credit card payments.
Students must submit their projects before the cut-off next Thursday.
What is the cut-off age for joining the youth basketball league?
- deadline
more general; a cut-off is the exact point beyond which things are no longer possible
- limit
broader; can be spatial or quantitative rather than temporal
- closing date
formal; used for applications and registrations
文法句型
cut-off for + [something]
cut-off date/time/point
cut-offs — verb
1. to stop something before it has finished, often suddenly and earlier than planne
to stop something before it has finished, often suddenly and earlier than planned
The manager cut off the discussion when it became too heated.
Heavy rain cut off the outdoor concert after only two songs.
The general cut off all negotiations when the rebels attacked the village.
Amit's father cut off his allowance after he failed all his classes.
- terminate
formal; implies a definite and official end
- halt
emphasises bringing to a sudden stop, often temporarily
- discontinue
more neutral; stopping something that was regular or ongoing
- continue
to keep something going without stopping
文法句型
cut off + [something/someone]
cut + [something] + off
用法筆記
Frequently used with abstract nouns as the object: negotiations, funding, conversation, support.
2. to prevent something such as water, electricity, or essential supplies from cont
to prevent something such as water, electricity, or essential supplies from continuing to flow or reach a place
The repair team cut off the water supply to fix the broken pipe.
cut off + supply/flow
The military cut off food deliveries to the city during the conflict.
Remember to cut off the gas before you remove the old stove.
The hurricane cut off the electricity supply to the entire coastal region.
文法句型
cut off + [resource] + from + [place]
cut + [resource] + off
用法筆記
The object is typically a resource or supply (water, power, food, fuel, communication). When used with from, indicates the place or person deprived.
3. to make a person, group, or place separate and unable to interact with others or
to make a person, group, or place separate and unable to interact with others or access services
The village was cut off from the rest of the island by the flood.
passive: be cut off from + [place]
When his phone battery died, Tom felt completely cut off from his family.
The mountains cut off the small town from the nearest hospital.
Elderly people who live alone can become cut off from their community.
- isolate
more formal; can be deliberate or natural
- separate
broader; does not always imply total lack of contact
- quarantine
specific to health contexts; deliberate isolation
文法句型
be cut off from + [place/person/group]
用法筆記
Very common in the passive voice (be cut off / become cut off / feel cut off). The from prepositional phrase is almost always present.
常見錯誤
4. to decide that a person, especially a family member, will receive no money or pr
to decide that a person, especially a family member, will receive no money or property from your will after your death
The old man cut off his eldest son after the family argument.
cut + [person] + off (financial disinheritance)
In some families, parents cut off children who marry against their wishes.
Elena's grandmother threatened to cut her off if she dropped out of medical school.
The will stated that the rebellious nephew had been cut off completely.
- disinherit
formal legal term; more specific than cut off
- disown
rejects the person entirely, not just financially
- inherit
to receive money or property from someone after their death
文法句型
cut + [someone] + off
cut + [someone] + off without + [something]
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 3 (isolate): disinheritance is specifically about money and property, not social connection, though the two often occur together.
5. to tell a customer in a bar or restaurant that they have had enough alcohol and
to tell a customer in a bar or restaurant that they have had enough alcohol and cannot buy another drink
The bartender cut off the young man after he had drunk four beers.
Diego was cut off by the waiter because he could barely stand up.
passive: was cut off
The manager told the staff to cut off any customer who seemed too drunk.
Layla politely asked the bartender to cut her off after two glasses of wine.
- stop serving
more neutral and literal; less idiomatic than cut off
文法句型
cut + [someone] + off
be cut off
用法筆記
Used in bars and pubs. The bartender or server is the subject; the customer is the object. A customer can also request to be cut off voluntarily.
6. to stop a machine, engine, or motor from running by operating a switch, button,
to stop a machine, engine, or motor from running by operating a switch, button, or valve
Kenji cut off the engine and listened for any strange noises.
cut off + engine
The alarm system cuts off the power automatically when it detects smoke.
cuts off + power automatically (automatic action)
Make sure you cut off the motor before you try to refuel the boat.
Before leaving the workshop, Ben cut off the compressor and checked the doors.
文法句型
cut off + [machine/engine]
cut + [machine/engine] + off
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 2 (block supply): sense 6 is about turning off a machine or device that is running, while sense 2 is about preventing a resource from flowing.
常見錯誤
7. to stop someone from speaking, especially by breaking a telephone connection or
to stop someone from speaking, especially by breaking a telephone connection or by suddenly interrupting
The phone call was cut off halfway through because of a bad signal.
passive: was cut off (phone call)
Every time Hana tried to explain, the man cut her off with a wave of his hand.
Aunt Rosa cut off my brother Lin when he tried to explain his side of the argument.
The connection was cut off before Omar could give his address.
- interrupt
more neutral; can be polite or impolite
- break in
phrasal verb; joining the conversation rather than stopping it
- disconnect
specifically about phone or electronic calls
文法句型
cut + [someone] + off
be/get cut off
用法筆記
Frequently used passive (get cut off / be cut off) because the interruption is often unexpected or out of the speaker's control.
常見錯誤
8. if a machine, engine, or device cuts off, it stops working or operating, often a
if a machine, engine, or device cuts off, it stops working or operating, often automatically or unexpectedly
The engine cut off suddenly in the middle of the highway.
intransitive: engine + cuts off
The heating system cuts off automatically when the room reaches the right temperature.
The generator cut off during the night, so the freezer began to warm up.
If the safety sensor is triggered, the machine cuts off immediately.
文法句型
[machine/engine] + cuts off
用法筆記
This is the only intransitive sense. No object follows cut off. The subject is always a machine, engine, or system. Distinguish from sense 6 (transitive, someone turns something off).
常見錯誤
❌ 'The computer cut off.' → 'The computer shut down.' — cut off is used for engines and motors, not computers or electronic devices.