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.
During the debate, one candidate repeatedly cut off his opponent, making it difficult for her to finish her arguments.
Fix the pattern
One small grammar move makes it sound right.
Not: He cut off me in the middle of my point.
Say: He cut me off in the middle of my point.
With a pronoun, the object goes in the middle: 'cut me off'.
Which sounds natural?
Tap the one a native speaker would say.
'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 + off
- cut me off
- cut her off
- mid-sentence
- abruptly
Don't confuse it
Related
Other meanings and phrases to compare.
- cut off (disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)) — 'cut off' also has the more basic meaning 'disconnect (phone, electricity, etc.)'; this is the advanced sense.