Meaning trap
cut off
interrupt abruptly
To stop someone from speaking or expressing themselves by interrupting them suddenly, often before they have finished.
Don't mix these meanings
Same phrase, different job.
To stop someone from speaking or expressing themselves by interrupting them suddenly, often before they have finished.
'cut off' also has the more basic meaning 'disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)'; this is the advanced sense.
Hear it in context
Notice where the phrase sounds natural.
- She was about to explain her idea when the chairperson cut her off mid-sentence.conversation
- During the debate, one candidate repeatedly cut off his opponent, making it difficult for her to finish her arguments.IELTS speaking
Fix the pattern
Pattern: cut someone off (when speaking)
WrongHe cut off me in the middle of my point.
RightHe cut me off in the middle of my point.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'cut me off'.
Patterncut someone off (when speaking)
Use it right
Choose the version that sounds natural in speech.
'Cut someone off' is the natural verb for interrupting; the full description is wordy.
Build natural chunks
Words that usually travel with it.
cut + person + offcut me offcut her offmid-sentenceabruptly
Don't confuse it
Unlike the B2 sense 'isolate (separate from others or from help)', this sense refers specifically to stopping someone from speaking, not to physical or social isolation.
Related
- cut off (disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)) — 'cut off' also has the more basic meaning 'disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)'; this is the advanced sense.