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cut off from — emotionally isolated

phrasal verbC1IELTS 7+neutraloccasional

To feel or be made to feel emotionally isolated or deprived of support, connection, or belonging, especially within a group, family, or community.

Say it like a native

Textbook Since moving abroad, I have felt emotionally disconnected from my family.

Native Since moving abroad, I've felt really cut off from my family.

'Cut off from' captures emotional isolation plainly; 'emotionally disconnected from' is therapy-brochure language.

Pattern: be/feel cut off from + noun (e.g. family, friends, support)

In use

  • After moving to a new city, she felt completely cut off from her old friends and family.emotions
  • Many elderly people report feeling cut off from society, which can have a significant impact on their mental well-being.IELTS speaking

Common mistake

✗ I feel cut off of everyone here.

✓ I feel cut off from everyone here.

Always 'cut off FROM', not 'of'.

Common collocations

  • feel cut off from — from everyone, from the world, from my family, isolated

Don't confuse it

Unlike the B1 sense, which refers to being physically separated or unable to access something, this sense is figurative and focuses on feelings of emotional distance or lack of support.

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