The phrase "cut off" generally means to detach, remove, or stop something abruptly. It can refer to physically severing a part from something, interrupting someone while they are speaking, or stopping a supply or flow of something. The expression can be used in various contexts, such as in discussions about communication, geography, or resources.
The phrase "cut off" originates from the Old English word "cutter," meaning "to separate or divide." The word "off" adds the sense of removal or distance from the original entity. Over time, the combination evolved into its current usage in the English language.