cut off — stop supply (water, money, etc.)
phrasal verbB2IELTS 6+neutralcommon
To stop providing something that someone needs, like water, gas, or financial support.
Say it like a native
Textbook The utility company discontinued our water supply.
Native They cut off our water.
'Cut off' is what everyone says about losing a utility; 'discontinued our water supply' is a billing letter.
Pattern: cut sb/sth off (often passive)
In use
- If you don't pay the bill, the water company might cut off your supply.money
- Some parents cut off financial support when their children finish university to encourage independence.IELTS speaking
Common mistake
✗ The company cut off the electricity to us.
✓ The company cut off our electricity. / cut our electricity off.
Cut off the thing supplied; you don't usually add 'to us'.
Common collocations
cut off + supply— the water, the gas, his funding, the power
Don't confuse it
Different from 'run out', which means something finishes naturally.
Related
- cut off (disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)) — Another meaning of 'cut off' is 'disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)'; compare the examples to keep the meanings separate.