cut off from doing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cut off from doing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation where someone is prevented from performing a specific action or task. Example: "Due to the sudden storm, we were cut off from doing any outdoor activities for the rest of the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

Accounts have been frozen and foreign banks have been cut off from doing business in dollars if America is not satisfied that they are properly sharing information.Millions of prospective and current customers are hampered by tougher compliance standards.

The Economist

Announcing his executive order this morning in the Rose Garden, Mr. Bush reached beyond American borders and said that any foreign banks that did not cooperate with American investigators could be cut off from doing business in the United States.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

But even the fact that two lakes are presently cut off from one another does not prevent cichlids from hopping between them.

The Guardian

Without phones, villagers in Shimshal (and the thousands of villages like it) are isolated from their neighbors a few miles down the road and their relatives in other towns, and are cut off from anything that does not occur in their village.

TechCrunch

If you are cut off from your parents do not keep going around to their house again and again.

WikiHow

I don't love what I'm doing, I'm cut off from everyone I once loved, I don't even know if I want to do art any more, it's too painful.'" Directing had been an extreme business.

The Guardian - Music

The narrative designed for internal consumption was fiction moulded around a kernel of fact: the pharaoh was indeed cut off from his army, he did face a chariot onslaught while outnumbered, and he did inflict casualties.

The Guardian

Well, I wanted Greg to be cut off from people, but I didn't want him to be an antisocial loner.

The Guardian

She followed up with a chapter, "The Circumcision of Girls," in The Hidden Face of Eve: Women in the Arab World (1980), which described her own clitoridectomy when she was six years old: I did not know what they had cut off from my body, and I did not try to find out.

Wikipedia

You don't meet a lot of Russians, but unless you speak their language you're going to be cut off from them anyway, because they don't speak yours.

The Guardian - Travel

FRANKFURT — Five years after the financial crisis began, many banks throughout the euro zone are still in a weakened state, cut off from money markets because investors do not trust them, and effectively on life support from the European Central Bank.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "cut off from doing", ensure the context clearly indicates what is being prevented or restricted. For example, specify who or what is causing the restriction.

Common error

Avoid using "cut off from doing" in vague contexts. Always specify what action is being prevented or from whom the separation occurs. For instance, instead of saying "They were cut off from doing things", specify "They were cut off from doing business internationally".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cut off from doing" functions as a descriptive phrase indicating a state of prevention or restriction from performing an action. It typically follows a subject (person, entity) that is being restricted. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of this usage.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

33%

Wiki

33%

Science

33%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "cut off from doing" is a grammatically correct and usable expression that describes a state of being prevented or restricted from performing a specific action. Ludwig AI confirms the correctness of the phrase. Though relatively rare, it finds use in news, media, and other contexts to emphasize the lack of access or ability to perform an action. When using this phrase, ensure clarity by specifying what action is being prevented and who or what is causing the restriction. Alternative phrases such as "prevented from doing" or "restricted from doing" can be used to convey similar meanings. Major sources like The New York Times and The Guardian employ this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prevented from doing

Focuses more on active prevention by an external force.

restricted from doing

Implies limitations or constraints on actions.

unable to do

Highlights a lack of ability rather than external prevention.

incapable of doing

Emphasizes inherent inability or unsuitability.

barred from doing

Suggests a formal or legal prohibition.

prohibited from doing

Implies a rule or law against the action.

disallowed from doing

Similar to prohibited, but can apply to less formal situations.

stopped from doing

Emphasizes the cessation of an action in progress.

hindered from doing

Focuses on obstacles and difficulties faced while trying to act.

discouraged from doing

Implies a lack of support or incentive to act.

FAQs

How can I use "cut off from doing" in a sentence?

You can use "cut off from doing" to describe a situation where someone is prevented or restricted from performing a specific action. For instance, "The company was cut off from doing business with its primary supplier".

What's an alternative to "cut off from doing"?

Alternatives include "prevented from doing", "restricted from doing", or "unable to do", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "cut off to do" instead of "cut off from doing"?

No, "cut off to do" is not grammatically correct. The correct construction is "cut off from doing", which includes the preposition "from" to properly link the action being prevented.

What does "cut off from doing" imply?

"Cut off from doing" implies a state of being isolated, restricted, or prevented from performing a particular activity or task. It suggests an external force or circumstance is causing the inability to act.