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THE IDIOM COLLECTION LEARN & PRACTISE

Cut someone short

Understand the meaning. See it in context. Make it yours.

01 / UNDERSTAND

Meaning in plain English

To stop someone speaking before they have finished.

02 / SEE IT IN CONTEXT

The expression in a sentence

  1. The chair cut me short before I could explain the final point.

03 / CHECK YOUR UNDERSTANDING

Quick idiom quiz

Try the question without looking back, then write a sentence of your own. You can retry as often as you like.

Can you recall the expression?

Which expression from this lesson matches this meaning?

To stop someone speaking before they have finished.
Show the answer

Cut someone short — To stop someone speaking before they have finished.

Try your own sentence (optional)

Make it yours

Write one sentence using “Cut someone short” about your own life.

Check your sentence

Does your sentence match this meaning?

To stop someone speaking before they have finished.

Compare: The chair cut me short before I could explain the final point.

Check the spelling and how the expression fits the sentence. Your example can be different.

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More ways to understand and use it

When to use it

Use it when describing an interruption or politely explaining that you must interrupt. It suits conversation and workplace discussion.

More examples in context

  • I am sorry to cut you short, but our train is about to leave.
  • She started describing the problem, and he cut her short with a question.

Usage note

For a speaker, use “cut someone short.” For an activity, use “cut something short,” as in ending a trip early. Cut stays cut in the past tense.

A short conversation

A: I can explain the remaining five points now.
B: I am sorry to cut you short, but we have reached the end of our booking.
A: I will email the remaining details.

One more practice question

What happens when a chair cuts a speaker short?

A. The speaker is stopped before finishing their remarks.
B. The speaker is invited to continue without a time limit.

Check your answer

A. Cutting someone short means interrupting before they are finished.

Related lessons

Meaning and usage checked against Cambridge Dictionary. Explanations, examples and conversation are original.

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