Cut off at the pass Meaning in English
expression
Definition
To stop someone from achieving what they want by getting ahead of them or preventing something before it happens, often by taking action early.
Usage & Nuances
This is an idiomatic, somewhat informal expression, often used in both business and casual speech to mean stopping a problem before it grows. It comes from old Western movies about preventing someone from escaping through a mountain pass. Typical collocations: 'try to cut them off at the pass,' 'managed to cut the problem off at the pass.'
Example Sentences
They tried to cut off at the pass by ending the meeting early.
basic
If you study the material now, you can cut off at the pass any confusion later.
basic
The manager decided to cut off at the pass any complaints by clearly explaining the policy.
basic
I knew she would ask for more time, so I cut her off at the pass by finishing early.
natural
We wanted to cut off any trouble at the pass by preparing thoroughly for the event.
natural
He always tries to cut problems off at the pass before they get worse.
natural